Voting in South Dakota

Last Updated August 31st, 2021

Voter Registration In South Dakota

Who Can Register In South Dakota

To register to vote in South Dakota, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be a resident of South Dakota
- Be at least 18 years old on or before the next election
- Not be judged mentally incompetent by a court of law
- Not currently be serving a sentence for a felony conviction which included imprisonment, served or suspended, in an adult penitentiary system

You must register to vote at least 15 days before the election you wish to vote in. This means that your voter registration form must be received by your county auditor by this deadline.

South Dakota Election Day Registration

South Dakota does not offer Election Day registration, so be sure to submit your voter registration before the deadline.

Pre-registration

You can pre-register to vote in South Dakota if you will turn 18 by the next election.

Voting Rights Restoration

South Dakota does remove voting rights for people with felony convictions. Voting rights are lost until completion of an entire sentence, including probation, parole, and restitution, with automatic restoration after.

If you have a past conviction, learn more about your eligibility to vote here.

Voting In South Dakota

Where To Vote In South Dakota

Search for your polling location.

Vote-by-mail & Absentee

All voters are eligible to vote absentee/by mail in South Dakota; no excuse is needed.

Early Voting In South Dakota

South Dakota offers in-person early voting. No excuse is needed to vote early.

Primary Elections In South Dakota

South Dakota has semi-open and closed primaries. Only voters registered with the Republican Party may only vote in that party's primary. Voters registered with the Democratic Party and unaffiliated voters may vote in the Democratic Primary. 17-year-olds cannot vote in the primary election even if they will be 18 by the corresponding general election.

Voter ID In South Dakota

Voter ID Requirements

Photo ID is required to vote in South Dakota, allow you can still vote a regular ballot if you don’t have ID. Valid forms of ID include:
- South Dakota driver's license or nondriver ID card
- U.S. government photo ID (passport is acceptable)
- U.S. Armed Forces ID
- Current student photo identification card from a South Dakota high school or South Dakota accredited institution of higher education
- Tribal photo ID

If you go to your polling place without an approved form of ID, you can sign a personal identification affidavit and vote a regular ballot.

Additional South Dakota Resources

Your State Election Official

South Dakota Secretary of State
Steve Barnett
https://sdsos.gov/default.aspx
Phone number: 605.773.3537

Overseas & Military Voting

Voting As A Student

Voting For People With Disabilities

Learn more about voting in South Dakota if you have a disability.

Voting For People With Convictions

If you have a past conviction, learn more about your eligibility to vote from Restore Your Vote.