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South Dakota
South Dakota
Voter
Information
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South Dakota voter registration guide
South Dakota voter registration deadlines
- Register to vote (online): N/A
- Register to vote (by mail): Received by October 19, 2020
- Register to vote (in person): Received by October 19, 2020
Check your South Dakota voter registration status
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your South Dakota registration using the South Dakota voter registration lookup tool.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
South Dakota voter registration rules
To register in South Dakota you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- reside in South Dakota
- be 18 years old by Election Day
- not be currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction which included imprisonment, served or suspended, in an adult penitentiary system
- not have been adjudged mentally incompetent by a court
Register to vote by mail in South Dakota
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Your SD driver’s license number is requested. If you do not have a valid driver’s license, you must provide the last four digits of your social security number.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You must register with a party if you want to take part in that party’s primary election, caucus, or convention.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your Local Election Office.
- Your voter registration form must be received by October 19, 2020
Register to vote in person in South Dakota
- Contact your Local Election Office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your South Dakota driver's license number, state ID number, or the last four digits of your social security number.
South Dakota vote by mail guide
Your Local Election Office will compare your signature on your voted ballot to the one on your ballot application. If the signatures don't match, your ballot might be rejected. Please sign carefully.
South Dakota vote by mail deadlines
- Earliest day to apply: January 1, 2020
- Request your mail-in ballot (online): N/A
- Request your mail-in ballot (by mail): Received by November 2, 2020
- Request your mail-in ballot (in person): Received by November 2, 2020
- Return your mail-in ballot (by mail): Received by November 3, 2020
- Return your mail-in ballot (in person): Received by November 3, 2020
South Dakota vote by mail overview
Voting by mail is not as complicated as you might think. There are only a handful of steps:
- Request your mail-in ballot by the deadline.
- Receive your mail-in ballot via USPS.
- Return your mail-in ballot by the deadline.
South Dakota vote by mail rules
Any registered South Dakota voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
South Dakota vote by mail ID requirements (request)
You either need to have your absentee ballot application notarized, include a photocopy of a government-issued photo ID that shows your name and South Dakota address, or send an email to your county auditor with a picture of a government-issued photo ID that shows your name and South Dakota address.
South Dakota vote by mail ID requirements (return)
The signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
South Dakota vote by mail directions
In almost all cases, you will need to sign up to vote by mail. The state won’t just mail you a ballot. Don't worry: we will walk you through it. There are only a handful of steps:
- You submit an application to vote by mail.
- Your Local Election Office processes your application.
- Your Local Election Office sends your ballot to you.
- You vote using the ballot and return it by the deadline.
Request your mail-in ballot via USPS
- Download the South Dakota vote by mail application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your Local Election Office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your Local Election Office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- The deadline to apply by mail is: received by November 2, 2020.
Request your mail-in ballot in person
- Visit your Local Election Office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is: received by November 2, 2020.
Receive and return your mail-in ballot
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your Local Election Office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a state-provided dropbox. Please check with your Local Election Office if your county has a dropbox. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official dropbox.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by November 3, 2020.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by November 3, 2020.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
Additional South Dakota voter information
South Dakota early voting
- Early voting starts: 46 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
- What to bring: You must show a photo ID at the polls. You can show any ID issued by South Dakota or the federal government, a tribal ID, or a student ID card from a South Dakota high school, college, university, or trade school. If you do not have valid ID, you may sign an affidavit and then vote.
South Dakota voter id
- ID requirements for voting in person: You must show a photo ID at the polls. You can show any ID issued by South Dakota or the federal government, a tribal ID, or a student ID card from a South Dakota high school, college, university, or trade school. If you do not have valid ID, you may sign an affidavit and then vote.
- ID requirements for vote by mail request: You either need to have your absentee ballot application notarized, include a photocopy of a government-issued photo ID that shows your name and South Dakota address, or send an email to your county auditor with a picture of a government-issued photo ID that shows your name and South Dakota address.
- ID requirements for vote by mail return: The signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
Local Election Office
Contact your Local Election Office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for South Dakota elections. You can contact them with questions, but your Local Election Office will probably respond faster.
Secretary of State, Elections Division 500 E. Capitol Pierre, SD 57501‐5070
Offsite links
- Check your voter registration directly with South Dakota.
- You have the right to vote. If anyone tries to stop you, call or text the National Election Protection Hotline. Their number is 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).