Voting in South Dakota

Get more information on how the COVID-19 crisis is affecting elections in South Dakota.

Upcoming Elections and Deadlines in South Dakota

Statewide & Federal
Local

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 restore the right to vote upon completion of sentence, including parole, probation, and/or restitution, for felony convictions on or after July 1, 2012. Felony convictions sustained before that date may be eligible to vote while on probation or before all fines have been paid.

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

Voting In South Dakota

Where To Vote In South Dakota

You can search for your polling place here.

Vote-by-mail & Absentee

No excuse is needed to vote absentee in South Dakota.

To request an absentee ballot in South Dakota, download and print an absentee ballot application PDF and mail the original application with your non-digital signature to your county auditor. State law requires absentee ballot applications to be notarized or include a photocopy of an acceptable ID.

Click here to track your South Dakota absentee ballot.

To return your South Dakota absentee ballot, mail it back or return it in person at your county auditor. Some counties will also have secure drop boxes available.

Early Voting In South Dakota

South Dakota offers in-person absentee voting. No excuse is needed to vote early. Registered voters can vote in-person once Absentee Voting begins at their County Auditor's office.

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.