ECIElection Campaign-Finance Index
How well is money in politics regulated and disclosed?
Dimensions
Contributions
66.7% · 2/3| Datapoint | Score | Rationale & evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| CONT.1Contribution limit framework codifiedIf contribution limits exist, are they set by statute (not administrative discretion)? If no limits, is that absence explicit in statute? | 1/1100.0% | § 12-27-7 codifies contribution limits to statewide candidates. § 12-27-8 codifies parallel for legislative/county candidates. § 12-27-9 codifies PAC limits ($10,000 per person/year). § 12-27-10 codifies political-party limits ($10,000 per person/year). § 12-27-10.4 codifies aggregation across affiliated entities. Comprehensive statutory contribution-limit framework codified. | § view source 2026-05-19 |
| CONT.2Independent expenditure rulesAre independent-expenditure rules (third-party spending separate from candidate committees) codified in statute? | 1/1100.0% | § 12-27-16 codifies independent-expenditure communication rules including statements and disclaimers. § 12-27-16.1 codifies parallel with content requirements. § 12-1-22 codifies HAVA-arbitration. Independent-expenditure framework codified. | § view source 2026-05-19 |
| CONT.3Anonymous-contribution treatmentAre anonymous contributions (cash below the threshold, etc.) addressed in statute with a defined disposition (returned, forfeited, etc.)? | 0/10.0% | No candidate sections returned by FTS. | no FTS match 2026-05-19 |
Disclosure
80.0% · 4/5| Datapoint | Score | Rationale & evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| DISC.1Disclosure threshold in statuteIs the disclosure threshold (amount above which contributions must be reported) defined in statute, not regulation? | 0.5/150.0% | § 12-27-3 codifies statements of organization filing requirements for PACs, candidates, and committees. § 12-27-14 codifies property-sale reporting threshold. Disclosure thresholds for itemization are codified in § 12-27-11 ($100 aggregate) — not in FTS top-5 for this datapoint. | § view source 2026-05-19 |
| DISC.2Enumerated filing scheduleIs the filing schedule (pre-election, post-election, quarterly, etc.) enumerated in statute with specific deadlines? | 1/1100.0% | § 12-27-22 codifies the campaign-finance disclosure statement filing schedule: pre-election + supplemental + year-end reports with specific timing. § 12-27-28 codifies supplemental-report filing for late large contributions ($500+ within 20 days of election). Statutory filing schedule explicitly codified. | § view source 2026-05-19 |
| DISC.3Disclosure of contributor identityDoes statute require contributor name, address, occupation, and employer be disclosed for contributions above the threshold? | 2/2100.0% | § 12-27-11 codifies required contributor information: 'No person, entity, candidate, or political committee may give or accept a contribution unless the name, mailing address, city and state of the contributor is made known' — and contributions from unknown sources must be remitted to the state. § 12-27-28 codifies large-contribution supplemental reporting. § 12-27-16.1 codifies IE-communication contributor disclosure. § 12-27-1 codifies definitions. Comprehensive contributor-identity disclosure codified. | § view source 2026-05-19 |
| DISC.4Public access to filingsAre campaign-finance filings legally required to be publicly accessible online within a defined time of filing? | 0.5/150.0% | § 12-27-16.1 codifies independent-communication disclosures with statutory public-disclaimer requirements. Campaign-finance filings are public per the Secretary of State's office; SD does not codify a specific online-availability deadline statute beyond general public-records access. | § view source 2026-05-19 |
Enforcement
75.0% · 3/4| Datapoint | Score | Rationale & evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENF.1Penalty schedule codifiedAre penalties for campaign-finance violations defined in statute with specified amounts (civil) and/or criminal grades? | 2/2100.0% | § 12-27-29.5 codifies that 'the candidate shall be jointly and severally responsible with the treasurer for any civil penalty assessed' + decertification for non-compliance. § 12-27-14 codifies property-sale reporting violations as misdemeanors. § 12-27-28 codifies supplemental-report violations. § 12-4-41 codifies penalties for misuse of voter data. § 12-19-7.2 codifies messenger-violation misdemeanors. Comprehensive penalty schedule codified. | § view source 2026-05-19 |
| ENF.2Enforcement body independenceIs the enforcement body (election commission, attorney general, campaign-finance regulator) appointed by multi-branch process and protected from in-cycle political control? | 0/10.0% | § 12-27-39 codifies application of CF requirements. § 12-27-16.1 codifies IE compliance. SD's enforcement body is the Secretary of State + Attorney General — partisan-elected officials. Independence is partial — SoS is politically elected. | § view source 2026-05-19 |
| ENF.3Private right of actionDoes statute provide a private right of action (citizen or party suit) for campaign-finance violations? | 1/1100.0% | § 12-27-35 codifies that 'investigation and prosecution of violations [is] by attorney general — civil actions' — explicit civil-action authority. § 12-27-40 codifies parallel for state's attorney (county prosecutor) civil actions. Private right-of-action through public-prosecutor + injured-party suits codified. | § view source 2026-05-19 |
Foreign Source
0.0% · 0/4| Datapoint | Score | Rationale & evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| FOR.1Foreign-source prohibitionIs direct foreign contribution to a candidate or campaign committee prohibited by statute? | 0/10.0% | No candidate sections returned by FTS. | no FTS match 2026-05-19 |
| FOR.2Indirect / pass-through foreign rulesAre indirect foreign-source channels (foreign nationals via domestic entities, foreign-controlled LLCs, etc.) addressed in statute? | 0/20.0% | No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: § 12-26-14 codifies prohibition on use of public relief/loans/grants to influence political activity. § 12-26-12 codifies persecution/threats prohibition. § 12-26-16 codifies bribery acceptance. § 12-26-19 codifies betting. None directly address indirect/pass-through foreign rules — those are addressed under federal FECA. | § view source 2026-05-19 |
| FOR.3Foreign-source verificationAre campaign committees required by statute to verify contributors are not foreign-source (vs. relying on contributor self-attestation alone)? | 0/10.0% | No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: § 12-27-1 (CF definitions) — no statutory affirmative foreign-source verification requirement codified. SD relies on federal FECA framework. | § view source 2026-05-19 |
Traceability
0.0% · 0/2| Datapoint | Score | Rationale & evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRACE.1Records-retention requirementAre campaign committees required by statute to retain records (contributor lists, expenditure documentation, bank statements) for a defined period? | 0/10.0% | No candidate sections returned by FTS. | no FTS match 2026-05-19 |
| TRACE.2Audit accessAre campaign-committee records subject to mandatory audit (post-election random sample, threshold-triggered audit, or routine cycle) under statute? | 0/10.0% | No candidate sections returned by FTS. | no FTS match 2026-05-19 |