South Dakota Voting Requirements & Information

U.S. Vote Foundation’s South Dakota Voting Requirements and Information directory informs you of South Dakota voting rules and options. It focuses on South Dakota-specific voting guidelines and information for all voters, including domestic, overseas, and military voters. Here you can find out about South Dakota voter eligibility, voter ID requirements, registration, absentee and early voting options, ways to transmit voting documents and links to specific-South Dakota voting tools. It's an all-in-one South Dakota voting resource.

Upcoming Election Dates & Deadlines

South Dakota Federal and State Elections

Tue Jun 4, 2024 - South Dakota Presidential Primary

Voter Registration Deadline

Submitted by
Mon May 20, 2024 5:00PM

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

Submitted by
Mon Jun 3, 2024 5:00PM

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

Received by
Tue Jun 4, 2024 7:00PM

Early Voting Available

In-person Absentee Voting
From Fri Apr 19, 2024 to Mon Jun 3, 2024

Tue Jun 4, 2024 - South Dakota State Primary

Voter Registration Deadline

Submitted by
Mon May 20, 2024 5:00PM

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

Submitted by
Mon Jun 3, 2024 5:00PM

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

Received by
Tue Jun 4, 2024 7:00PM

Early Voting Available

In-person Absentee Voting
From Fri Apr 19, 2024 to Mon Jun 3, 2024

General Information

Registration

You can register to vote or update your registration information:

  • by mail
  • in person at your elections office
  • at public assistance agencies
  • at military recruitment offices
  • at driver's license stations and some other government offices

Election Day Voting

Polling places are open from 7am to 7pm on Election Day. Bring your ID with you when you vote on Election Day.

Find my polling place

Early Voting

Voters may apply for and cast absentee ballots in their local county Auditors Office as soon as absentee voting period begins. Bring your ID with you when you vote early.

For exact hours of in-person absentee voting contact your local office

Absentee Voting

Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot beginning 46 days prior to a primary or general election. Include a copy of your ID with your absentee application form when you mail it.

Please visit the US Vote Disability Voting Guide to see accommodations for the registration and voting process.

Eligibility Requirements

You are eligible to vote in South Dakota if you:

  • Are a U.S. citizen
  • Are a resident of South Dakota
  • Are at least 18 years old by Election Day

You are NOT eligible to vote in South Dakota if:

  • You have been legally declared "mentally incompetent" by a court
  • You are currently serving a sentence including incarceration, parole, probation, or extended supervision for a felony conviction

Restorative Requirements

  • If you have completed a felony sentence, including any term of incarceration, parole, supervision, period of probation, or you have been pardoned, then you are immediately eligible to register to vote

In South Dakota, in order to register to vote and cast a ballot, you must pay all restitution, fines, or other fees.

You are able to pre-register:

  • if you will be 18 by Election Day

If you are a student, you are eligible to vote in South Dakota if:

  • You reside in South Dakota but are attending college in another state
  • You reside in another state but attend college in South Dakota
  • You provide a valid photo student ID from a college/university in South Dakota at the polls

Identification Requirements

Voter Registration

To register to vote in South Dakota you should provide:

  • Your South Dakota Driver's License Number

If you do not have these IDs, you may provide:

  • Last Four Digits of your Social Security Number

If you do not have a South Dakota Driver’s License or Social Security number and need help getting ID, go to www.voteriders.org.

Voting In-Person

If you are registered to vote in South Dakota, you are required to show photo ID to vote; or, you may instead sign an affidavit or similar document. Accepted forms of ID include:

  • Valid Federal Issued ID
  • Valid Military ID
  • Valid South Dakota Driver's License
  • Valid Student ID
  • Valid South Dakota Non-driver's ID
  • Valid Tribal ID
  • Valid US Passport

If you don't have any of these when you vote absentee in person or go to the polls on Election Day, you can fill out an affidavit confirming your identity and still be allowed to vote. If you do not have one of the South Dakota valid IDs and need help getting ID, go to www.voteriders.org.

  • When applying for an absentee ballot, include a copy of your photo ID.

Witness / Notarization Requirements

An absentee ballot must include ONLY ONE the following in order to be counted:

  • State ID or Notarized Absentee Ballot Application

Exceptions may apply for disabled voters. Please contact your local election official.

Voter Materials Transmission Options

Domestic Voter

In-Person

Mail

Fax

Email

Online

Voter Registration
Absentee Ballot Request
Blank Ballot To Voter
Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?

Upcoming Election Dates & Deadlines

South Dakota Federal and State Elections

Tue Jun 4, 2024 - South Dakota Presidential Primary

Voter Registration Deadline

Received by
Mon May 20, 2024 5:00PM

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

Submitted by
Mon Jun 3, 2024 5:00PM

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

Received by
Tue Jun 4, 2024 7:00PM

Tue Jun 4, 2024 - South Dakota State Primary

Voter Registration Deadline

Received by
Mon May 20, 2024 5:00PM

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

Submitted by
Mon Jun 3, 2024 5:00PM

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

Received by
Tue Jun 4, 2024 7:00PM

Eligibility Requirements

Overseas Voters

U.S. citizens living abroad have the right to vote as absentee voters, provided they are eligible to vote in their state. If you are living outside of the U.S. permanently, indefinitely, or temporarily, your voting rights stay with you, even if you never voted when you lived in the U.S. To vote from overseas:

  • Complete and send an overseas voter registration/ballot request form to your election office in the U.S. This is one specific form that will register you as an overseas voter and request your absentee ballot – simultaneously.

Many states allow children who were born overseas, but never lived in the U.S., to use their U.S. parents’ last residence address to register.

Military Voters

Service members and their eligible family members living outside their voting jurisdiction (within or outside the U.S.) are able to vote as absentee voters.

  • If you are a service member, or an eligible family member, there is a single form to file for both voter registration and ballot request. It is often called the “Federal Post Card Application” or the FPCA form. This form must be re-filed with your election office each time you change location.

To vote as a service member or eligible family member:

  • Complete and send a voter registration/ballot request form “FPCA” to your election office in the U.S. It is the same form in all states.

Identification Requirements

Voting Overseas

U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

  • Valid South Dakota Driver's License
  • U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
  • Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
  • Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

Your state does not require an ID to be provided in order to register your ballot.

Voting Military

Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the federal voter registration/ballot request form ("FPCA"). You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

  • Valid South Dakota Driver's License
  • U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
  • Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
  • Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

Your state does not require an ID to be provided in order to register your ballot.

Voter Materials Transmission Options

Overseas Voter

In-Person

Mail

Fax

Email

Online

Voter Registration
Absentee Ballot Request
Blank Ballot To Voter
Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

Military Voter

In-Person

Mail

Fax

Email

Online

Voter Registration
Absentee Ballot Request
Blank Ballot To Voter
Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?