The board of supervisors of a township may, by ordinance, require a candidate for township office to file a nominating petition pursuant to § 8-3-1.2. If a township has fifty or more registered voters, ten percent or more of the registered voters may file a petition, by October first, requesting that nomination petitions be filed by all candidates for township office. If such petition is filed, the board of supervisors shall adopt a resolution requiring each candidate for township office to file a nominating petition pursuant to § 8-3-1.2.
SDCL 8-3-1.1