Last Updated: 8/14/2022
Every year after the census is completed, the South Dakota Legislature is constitutionally required to redraw its legislative district boundaries to accommodate shifts in population and ensure equal representation to all South Dakotans. These new boundaries are then implemented across South Dakota for the next ten years.
Native American Rights Fund voting information. South Dakota Voter Registration
Citizen of the United States
Reside in South Dakota
Age 18 or older on or before the next election day
Not currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction which included imprisonment, served or suspended, in an adult penitentiary system
Not judged mentally incompetent by a court of law
REGISTRATION LOCATIONS:
County auditor's office
City finance office
Driver's license station
Public assistance agencies providing SNAP, TANF or WIC
Department of Human Services offices which provide assistance to the disabled
Military recruitment offices
Secretary of State’s Office
REGISTRATION DEADLINES:
Fifteen days prior to any election
Must be received by the county auditor 15 days prior to the election or postmarked 30 days prior to the election
To vote in the 2022 General Election, the voter registration. deadline is October 24, 2022.
Voter Information Portal - Check your voter registration, precinct and polling place information
Voter Registration Drive Instructions
Agency Instructions and Forms
REGISTRATION DEADLINES:
Fifteen days prior to any election
Must be received by the county auditor 15 days prior to the election or postmarked 30 days prior to the election
To vote in the 2022 General Election, the voter registration. deadline is October 24, 2022.
Register to Vote, update your registration or cancel your registration: ELECTIONS AND VOTING SOUTH DAKOTA
How to register:
Print the Voter Registration Form, fill-out the form, sign it and then submit it to your County Auditor. Your Voter Registration form with an original signature must be received by the auditor 15 days before any election if you wish to vote in that election.
South Dakota law does not allow you to submit your voter registration form via fax or email.
Voter ID Requirements to Vote
Photo ID is a requirement to vote. A voter must present one of the
allowable photo ID’s:
SD driver’s license, an SD issued non-driver’s license ID, tribal photo ID, passport, U.S Armed Forces ID, current university photoID or current high school photo ID.
If a voter does not have an acceptable form of ID, the voter must be given the option to sign a personal affidavit under the penalty of perjury in which they state they are the person they have declared.
Source: https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/assets/2022GeneralElectionInformation.pdf
Bring Identification
All voters who appear at a polling place must show proof of identification (SDCL12-18-6.1). Approved forms of photo identification include:
If you do not have a photo ID, you can sign a personal identification affidavit, and will still be allowed to vote a regular ballot.
If you are voting for the first time and intend to vote by absentee ballot, please visit our absentee voting page.
Am I Registered?
You are not registered to vote until your application has been processed and accepted by your county election official. If accepted, the county election official will send you an acknowledgement Notice. If you do not receive an acknowledgement notice within 15 days of the date you submitted your application, contact your county election official.To check if you are registered, visit the voter information portal. If you are not registered to vote, please visit our voter registration page.
PROVISIONAL BALLOTS
If any person is not authorized to vote, is successfully challenged, or is otherwise denied the ability to vote and the person maintains that he or she is currently registered to vote in that precinct, the person may cast a ballot which shall be called a provisional ballot.
The voter must complete an affirmation for a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots are not counted on election night. The person in charge of the election will investigate the following day to determine if that voter was properly registered in that precinct. If the information found determines that the voter was properly registered, then that provisional ballot will be counted. The voter will receive notification of whether his/her provisional ballot was counted or not and if not, an explanation of why it was not counted.
By voting a provisional ballot, your vote may not be secret if only one provisional ballot is cast in that precinct.
The South Dakota Department of Public Safety offers resources for obtaining an ID.
IF you’re a non-driver or don’t have a South Dakota Driver’s License, an ID is a useful document.
There’s no age requirement for an ID card, and you can get one by visiting a Driver Licensing location or scheduling an appointment.
To RENEW an ID you will need the following documents:
If you currently have a South Dakota federally compliant card with a gold star in the upper right corner, you may renew up to 180 days prior to your expiration date. You will need to provide:
SEPT 23, 2022
Absentee voting begins. (SDCL 12-19-1.2)
(Absentee voting shall begin neither earlier nor later than forty-six days prior to the election including any voter identified as being covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act)
**Within 48 hours of receiving application, ballot must be sent out. (SDCL 12-19-3)**
OCT 11-25, 2022
Time in which all official county newspapers must publish at least once the full text, statement, title, explanation, and the recitation of the effect of each submitted ballot question. (SDCL 12-13-3)
OCT 24, 2022
Voter registration deadline for the general election. (SDCL 12-4-5) 5:00 PM local time
NOV 8, 2022
GENERAL ELECTION DAY
Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time (SDCL 12-2-2, 12-2-3)
No applications for absentee ballots, using an authorized messenger, may be honored by the county auditor after 3:00 p.m. on election day. Absentee ballots have to be returned to the county auditor in time for them to be delivered to the correct polling location by the time the polls close. (SDCL 12-19-2.1) (Voter must be confined due to sickness or disability to use authorized messenger.)
County Auditor Contact List with Physical Address
2022 Primary Election Absentee Ballot Statistics
How to Request an Absentee Ballot - Download the fillable PDF application by clicking this button: 
If you are unable to attend your polling place in person on Election Day, you may be eligible to vote by absentee ballot. To vote by absentee ballot, a voter must request an absentee ballot application from your County Election Official. The County Election Official will send a paper absentee ballot to the voter. The voter then completes the ballot and returns it to the County Election Official.
In South Dakota, the County Election Official must receive your application for absentee ballot no later than 5 p.m. the day before the election. Your voted ballot MUST be received by your County Election Official on Election Day in enough time to deliver your ballot to your voting precinct before the polls close. Make sure you are registered before you apply to vote by absentee ballot. You can confirm your registration by visiting the Voter Information Portal.
If you are a military or overseas citizen please visit the linked pages to view absentee requirements.
If you are registered as an Independent/No Party Affiliation (NPA) and are requesting a Primary Election ballot, you may have a choice of voting a Democratic ballot or a Non-Political ballot. This is an option because the South Dakota Democratic Party has opened their party primary elections to allow voters who are registered as independent/NPA to vote in their primary. A Non-Political ballot is a ballot that only includes races where the candidates do not run with a political party affiliation and any local ballot measures (Examples include: school, city, special district, local ballot measure, etc.). On the absentee ballot application you must select if you want the Democratic ballot or Non-Political ballot. If you do not check one of those boxes, you will be sent the non-political ballot. If you do not mark a ballot selection and no non-political ballot is available, you will not receive a ballot.
In the event of confinement because of sickness or disability, a qualified voter may apply in writing and obtain an absentee ballot by authorized messenger. An authorized messenger delivers the ballot from the County Election Official to the qualified voter and then delivers the marked ballot to the County Election Official. Any application for a ballot by authorized messenger must be received by the person in charge of the election before 3:00 p.m. the day of the election.
Many organizations offer free rides to polling places. Some of these include:
The South Dakota ACLU offers election day rides.
Check out Carpool Vote for possibilities for rides to the poll.
Download an absentee ballot application by visiting the absentee voting page.
VOTING RIGHTS
Any voter who can’t mark a ballot because the voter has a physical disability or can’t read, may ask any person they choose to help them vote.
Any voter may ask for instruction in the proper procedure for voting.
Any voter at the polling place prior to 7:00 p.m. local time is allowed to cast a ballot.
If your voting rights have been violated, you may call the person in charge of the election, the Secretary of State at (888) 703- 5328, or your state’s attorney.
Ballot Marking Devices
Voter assist terminals allow voters to review and mark their ballot electronically. South Dakota utilizes the ExpressVote.
The ballot is displayed on a touch-screen that allows the contents to be altered many different ways. The ballot contents may be enlarged for easier reading, shown in reverse contrast, or turned off for privacy if a voter chooses to listen to the ballot with the attached headphones.
A keypad, A/B switch, or sip and puff devices may be used as well. This technology warns the voter of undervotes and will not allow overvotes and shows a summary screen that will allow the voter to make changes if necessary.
Once the ballot is finalized, a paper ballot will then be marked and printed and can be placed in the ballot box. These devices DO NOT track or tabulate any votes.
In the event of confinement, because of sickness or disability, a qualified voter may request an absentee ballot in writing, naming an authorized messenger who will deliver the ballot to the voter.
An application for a ballot by authorized messenger must be received by the person in charge of the election before 3:00 p.m. the day of the election.
The voter must sign a statement on the absentee ballot envelope prior to returning the ballot. All voted ballots must be returned to the person in charge of the election in time to be delivered to the appropriate polling place prior to the closing of the polls.
A Power of Attorney cannot be used for absentee voting purposes.
The Election Assistance Commission offers tips for voters with disabilities.
Here's a list of potential ballot measures for 2020
Washington Post: South Dakota 2020 Election information
No person may vote a party ballot at any primary election unless the person is registered as a member of that political party in the precinct in which the person seeks to vote. Any political party in its constitution or bylaws may allow for participation in the party's primary elections by any person who is registered to vote with no party affiliation (NPA). (SDCL 12-6-26)
SOURCE: https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/assets/2022GeneralElectionInformation.pdf
The following nominations are made in the party primary elections held on June 7, 2022:
U.S. Senator – 6 year term
U.S. Representative – 2 year term
Governor - 4-year term
105 Legislators (35 Senate, 70 House) –2 year term
County Commissioners – 4 year term
County Auditor – 4 year term
County Sheriff – 4 year term
Register of Deeds – 4 year term
Delegates to State Party Conventions (only if designated tobe elected at a Primary Election in the party's bylaws) – 2 year term.
Precinct Committeeman/women (only if designated to be elected at a Primary Election in the party’s bylaws) – 2 year term In those areas of the state which have the following types of districts, nominations are made in a nonpartisan primary election:
44 Circuit Court Judges -- 8 year term
Water Development District Directors -- 4 year term
Heartland Consumers Power District Directors -- 6 year term
Retention Election: (Not on Primary Election ballot)
• Two SD Supreme Court Justices-8 year term
The following will be nominated at the 2022 state conventions of each political party:
Lieutenant Governor - 4 year term
Public Utilities Commissioner - 6 year term
Attorney General - 4 year term
Secretary of State - 4 year term
State Auditor - 4 year term
State Treasurer - 4 year term
Commissioner of School and Public Lands - 4 year term
In those areas of the state which have the following types of districts, nominations are made in the general election:
• Conservation District Supervisor -- 4 year term Alternative Political Status and New Party Candidate
Nominations at Party Convention
Recognized Political Parties
The Democratic, Libertarian, and Republican parties are recognized political parties in South Dakota.
South Dakota Democratic Party
PO Box 1485
Sioux Falls, SD 57101 Phone 605-271-5405 Fax 605-271-5405 info@sddp.org www.sddp.org
South Dakota Libertarian Party
609 Kent Street Harrisburg, SD 57032 Phone 605-203-1061 info@lpsouthdakota.org http://lpsouthdakota.org/
South Dakota Republican Party
PO Box 1099
Pierre SD 57501
Phone 605-610-1479 dan@southdakotagop.com www.southdakotagop.com
New Political Party Formation
New political parties forming that intend to have a candidate for US Senate, US House, Governor or Legislature, in the Primary Election, must form by filing new party formation petitions signed by at least 1% (3,393) of the voters of the state as shown by the total vote cast for Governor at the 2018 gubernatorial election. The petition deadline for the 2022 elections is March 29, 2022 at 5 pm (CT). New parties may start circulating at any time.
If a new political party forming does not intend to have a candidate for US Senate, US House, Governor, or Legislature, in the Primary election, that new political party may be organized by filing new party formation petitions signed by at least 1% (3,393) of the voters of the state as shown by the total vote cast for Governor at the 2018 gubernatorial election. The petition deadline is July 1, 2022 at 5 pm (CT).
Other elected offices are chosen at a political party’s convention pursuant to SDCL 12-5-21.
To remain a political party, a political party's statewide candidate must obtain at least 2.5% of the vote for that party’s statewide candidate in either of the two previous general elections.
(SDCL 12-1-3)
SEPT 23, 2022
Absentee voting begins. (SDCL 12-19-1.2)
(Absentee voting shall begin neither earlier nor later than forty-six days prior to the election including any voter identified as being covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act)
**Within 48 hours of receiving application, ballot must be sent out. (SDCL 12-19-3)**
OCT 11-25, 2022
Time in which all official county newspapers must publish at least once the full text, statement, title, explanation, and the recitation of the effect of each submitted ballot question. (SDCL 12-13-3)
OCT 24, 2022
Voter registration deadline for the general election. (SDCL 12-4-5) 5:00 PM local time
NOV 8, 2022
GENERAL ELECTION DAY
Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time (SDCL 12-2-2, 12-2-3)
No applications for absentee ballots, using an authorized messenger, may be honored by the county auditor after 3:00 p.m. on election day. Absentee ballots have to be returned to the county auditor in time for them to be delivered to the correct polling location by the time the polls close. (SDCL 12-19-2.1) (Voter must be confined due to sickness or disability to use authorized messenger.)
South Dakota codified laws. Search by topic and/or number
Know your voting rights in South Dakota: ACLU South Dakota
List of the South Dakota State Board of Elections
U.S. Election Complaint Report Site - the United States Justice Department
See Campaign Finance tab for information on Finance Complaints.
South Dakota Finance Complaint Process: forms and information
SD GOV Information Gateway: Official South Dakota State Government Website
South Dakota Find My Legislators Portal
South Dakota Secretary of State: Current Elected Officials
1-866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)
1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682) (en Español)
1-888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683) (Asian multilingual assistance)
1-844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287) (Arabic)
Find useful voter information including:
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