At a Glance: South Dakota

South Dakota Voting Rules

Voter Registration Form:
Forms can be found here.

Deadline to Register:
October 20, 2008 (15 days before Election Day).

Voter Eligibility:
Must be a United States citizen , reside in South Dakota, be at least 18 years old on or before the next election, not currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction which included imprisonment, served or suspended, in an adult penitentiary system, and not be judged mentally incompetent by a court of law.

Identification Requirements:
Driver’s License, Passport, and an ID with a photo such as a school or tribal id. If a voter is not able to present personal identification, the voter may complete an affidavit in lieu of the personal identification.

Where to Turn in Your Registration:
VReturn the form to the county auditor in your county of residence. This can be found here.

How to Register Others:
You are permitted to turn in the registration forms for the person. Be sure that the voter is indeed eligible to register to voter. The qualifications are listed in the instructions on the registration form and in the oath which is signed by the voter. If the person completing the registration form is currently registered to vote, they must complete the cancellation portion of the form also. All private entities or individuals registering voters must provide the voter their contact information. All private entities or individuals registering voters shall file the completed registration form with the county auditor within ten days or by the voter registration deadline, whichever occurs first. The deadline for registration cards to be returned to the county auditor in order for the person registering to be able to vote in the next election is 15 days prior to that election. The auditor’s office closes at 5:00pm.

It is imperative that every registration card which you are responsible for returning be received by the county auditor by that deadline. If a card is not returned by that deadline the voter will be disenfranchised for that election and you, as the person responsible for returning the completed card, may be held legally responsible. The National Voter Registration Act provides penalties for obstructing the registration process. For your information, this information is reprinted on the reverse side.

Absentee Voting:
Excuses: There is no excuse required. The application must be mailed or hand delivered to the person in charge of the election. The application cannot be submitted by fax. The voter's signature on the application must be notarized or witnessed by an official who can administer an oath. An alternative to notarization would be to send a photocopy of a valid form of identification with the application.
Begin the Application Process
Dates:May be submitted until 3:00 PM Election Day (November 4). Applications available beginning six weeks prior to Election Day (September 23).

Early Vote:
Early Vote is available.

For More Information
South Dakota Secretary of State; Capitol Building; 500 East Capitol Avenue Ste 204; Pierre SD 57501-5070
Visit their website

Info about veterans, voting in other states, etc.

Please see this website for more information on U.S. Military Voter Services and voting overseas.

Click here to return to our Voter Registration Action Center home page.

Read our voter registration event guide here.

Visit South Dakota's state home page.