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.
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 at least 18 years old by Election Day
- Have been a state resident for at least 30 days prior to the election
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
- Your South Dakota non-driver ID number
- Last Four Digits of your Social Security 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.
- 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 |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?
State Elections Website
Can I View my Sample Ballot?
Where is my Polling Place?
Where is my Ballot?
Am I Registered?
Has my Ballot Been Counted?
Military Voter Information
Overseas Voter Information
State Voter Registration FAQ
Where is my Overseas or Military Ballot?
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 |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
Military Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |