How to vote in South Dakota
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South Dakota voter registration guide
- Register to vote (online): N/A
- Register to vote (by mail): Received by 15 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): 15 days before Election Day
- 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 site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
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
South Dakota does not have online voter registration.
- 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 15 days before Election Day.
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your South Dakota driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring ONE photo ID that shows your name, and ONE document that shows your name and South Dakota address. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Voting rights are restored automatically upon completion of prison, parole, probation, and the payment of all fines and fees.
- You cannot vote while incarcerated.
- You cannot vote while on parole.
- You cannot vote while on probation.
- You can vote upon completion of your sentence.
- Financial obligations:
- parole fees
- probation fees
- court fees
- restitution fees
- Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information.
South Dakota absentee and mail ballot guide
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): N/A
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 1 day before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 1 day before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
Any registered South Dakota voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
South Dakota does not allow you to request your ballot online.
- Download the South Dakota absentee ballot 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.
- Your application must be received by 1 day before Election Day.
- 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 1 day before Election Day.
- 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.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
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 your South Dakota driver's license or state ID card, passport or photo ID issued by the Federal Government, a photo tribal ID, or a photo student ID for a South Dakota school.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
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.
Track your ballot here: South Dakota absentee ballot tracker
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
- You must make corrections by 5:00 pm on Election Day for your vote to count.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
If you are confined due to sickness or disability, you may receive a ballot by messenger. The deadline to submit your request is 3PM Election Day.
Dates & Deadlines
- Emergency ballot request ends 3PM Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is Election Day
Contact your local election office
South Dakota early voting guide
- Early voting starts: 46 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
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. Your ID can be expired unless it is a student ID.
South Dakota voter ID guide
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. Your ID can be expired unless it is a student ID.
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 your South Dakota driver's license or state ID card, passport or photo ID issued by the Federal Government, a photo tribal ID, or a photo student ID for a South Dakota school.
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 does not have online voter registration.
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