Voting in South Dakota

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Presidential Primary Election

06/04/2024
Election Date
05/20/2024
Voter Registration Deadline (by mail - received, in-person)

Vote By Mail Deadlines

06/03/2024
Deadline to Request Ballot (Received by)
06/04/2024
Deadline to Return Ballot (Received By)

Early Voting Dates

04/19/2024
Early Voting Begins
06/03/2024
Early Voting Ends

The upcoming election is a presidential primary. Learn About Presidential Primaries

Polling place hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Register to Vote

How to Vote in South Dakota

Learn about all the options to vote in South Dakota to make a plan to vote that works for you!

Frequently Asked Questions

South Dakota Board of Elections Phone Number: (605) 773-3537

South Dakota Board of Elections Website

Having trouble at the polls?

Call or text: 1-866-OUR-VOTE

Register to Vote in South Dakota

Whether you are registering to vote for the first time, or need to update your address, name or party affiliation - we've got you covered!

Am I Registered?

Not sure if you are eligible to vote due to a felony conviction?
Click here to learn more.

South Dakota Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely! You can check your voter registration online on South Dakota’s elections office website here, or you can contact the Board of Elections at 605-773-3537.

It can take several weeks. Most states send out voter registration cards within 5 to 7 weeks after receiving the registration. If you do not receive a registration card in the mail, contact your state election office to confirm you are registered. Find your state’s contact information in our How to Vote in Your State section on this page! In any event, you should verify your registration a week prior to the voter registration deadline in your state in case you need to fill out a new registration form or correct your form.

Elections take place all the time throughout the year, and odds are, you probably have an election coming up in your state! In addition to the presidential election and midterm elections, you have statewide, countywide and municipal elections that you can make your voice heard in. Make sure you know when your upcoming elections are so that you don’t miss a single one! Check out when your next election is here.

Your state provides an online ballot tracking system. You can track your ballot here!

YES you are able to register to vote at your student address. You should provide your official campus mailing address as well as the actual physical address of your on or off campus residence when registering to vote. You must have some sort of proof of address and residency that can be presented at your polling place (mail, a student ID, etc.). For more information, we suggest visiting your state’s elections office website. Remember: you can only register to vote and vote in one place, whether that is your student address or your home address!

YES, unhoused voters can register to vote and use their voice in South Dakota’s elections. Unhoused voters or voters without a permanent address may list a shelter address, street corner, or park as their address. For more information on voting while unhoused, visit our friends at the National Coalition for the Homeless.

YES. In this case you must register at the last address you had before you left the USA, or at the address to which you will return to when returning to the USA (you must present some indication of a present intent to return and live there – e.g. vehicle registration, driver’s license, property ownership, family, etc). If you have never had a permanent address in the United States but are a citizen you are allowed to register at an address you plan on moving to or an address where you currently have family living. Access more information on voting overseas here.

You may call the voting rights hotline at 866 687-8683, if informing another poll worker isn’t successful. They have lawyers ready to help you. Additionally, you can call the civil rights division of the U.S Department of Justice.

You can also find South Dakota’s elections office here and contact them by phone at 605-773-3537.

Vote By Mail

Request and track

Notice: Mail-in voting is a convenient and safe way to vote, but your ballot might not count if it’s submitted late or with errors. So follow the directions below on how to vote early or absentee and make your vote count in South Dakota.

Vote By Mail Deadlines

06/03/2024
Deadline to Request Ballot (Received by)
06/04/2024
Deadline to Return Ballot (Received By)

How Vote By Mail Works in South Dakota

Voting by mail is a two step process in South Dakota.

Step 1: Request your ballot NOW. The deadline for your application to be received is the day before Election Day at 5:00 p.m. - but you must request well before that to allow for time to mail.

  • Include a copy of a valid photo ID or a notarized oath with your application.

Step 2: Complete and return your ballot ASAP.

  • Return in person to your local election office by Election Day at 12:00 p.m.
  • Or stamp and mail your ballot so that it is received by Election Day at 12:00 p.m. noon. We recommend mailing your ballot at least two weeks before as the post office is not always reliable. The best intentions or postmark will not matter if your ballot is received after Election Day - your ballot will not count.

Click Here to See Your Ballot

Where to Sign Your Ballot

Remember to sign your return ballot.

After you complete your ballot, be sure to sign the reverse side of your absentee ballot return envelope. 

Be sure that your signature matches your signature on file with the state! If you registered online or at the DMV, check the signature on your license. If the signature does not match, your ballot could be tossed and will not count.

ID Requirements to Vote By Mail

All voters are required to provide ID when voting by mail.

ID is required with application to vote by mail.

When you apply for an absentee ballot, you must submit a copy of a valid photo ID OR a notarized signature with your absentee ballot request. You do not need to send any ID in with your ballot, but signature comparison with your voter registration file will be used to approve the ballot.

How You Can Return Your Mail-in Ballot

If you return your ballot by mail, you must add a stamp when mailing in your ballot.

You can also drop off your ballot in person at your local elections office.

Can Someone Else Return Your Ballot For You?

Any designated person can drop off a ballot for you.

Track Your Ballot

Track your ballot by clicking here.

Haven't used your ballot?

If you would like to vote in person, go to your polling site and vote on Election Day. The poll workers will verify that your absentee ballot was never submitted.

Opportunities to Fix Challenges to Your Ballot

South Dakota does not offer voters a chance to address challenges to their ballot. Your ballot will not count if it is late, or you do not follow directions.

Voter ID

Do Voters Need ID?

Voter in South Dakota must show ID to vote. Valid forms of identification include;

  • South Dakota driver’s license or non-driver ID card
  • A passport or other photo ID issued by the U.S. government
  • A current student photo ID from a high school, college or university in South Dakota
  • Tribal identification with a photo
  • Military ID

Voter ID in South Dakota

Find Your Ballot

Enter your address below to see what you can expect on Election Day.

Primaries

Presidential Primaries

Primary Type (D): Mixed
Primary Type (R): Closed

Only registered voters affiliated with the Republican Party may vote in its primary. Both registered voters that are unaffiliated and registered voters who are members of the Democratic Party may vote in Democratic primary. See South Dakota’s Republican Party or Democratic Party sites for more details.

Automatic Registration

Your state automatically registers people to vote at the address on their drivers license or other state issued ID card. If you have moved but have not updated your ID with your new address, changed your name or want to add a political party selection, you must update your voter registration. Click here to check to see if you are registered to vote, and update your registration if needed.

Election Day Registration

You can register to vote and cast your ballot on Election Day at your polling place or local elections office. Bring a valid ID and proof of residence with you.

In-Person Absentee Voting

In-Person Absentee Dates

04/19/2024
Voting Begins
06/03/2024
Voting Ends

You can vote in-person absentee in South Dakota

To vote in person with an absentee ballot, request, fill out, and return your ballot while at your county auditor's office.

Preregister

Some states have laws that specifically allow citizens to preregister at a certain age while others allow registration as long as you’re 18 by the next election. Preregistration means you’ll be automatically registered to vote on your 18th birthday without taking any additional steps.

In South Dakota, you can preregister to vote if you are 18 by the next election. Register to vote today!

Some states even let you vote in their primaries at 17 if you’ll be 18 by the general election so you can participate in the whole process!

You can not vote in the South Dakota primaries if you are 17 by the next election.