Election administration in South Dakota

South Dakota 2026 elections

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Election Information
Voter registration
Early voting
Absentee/mail-in voting
All-mail voting
Voter ID laws
State poll opening and closing times
Time off work for voting

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Election administration encompasses a state's voting policies, procedures, and enforcement. These include voter identification requirements, early and absentee/mail-in voting provisions, voter list maintenance methods, and more. Each state's voting policies dictate who can vote and under what conditions.

THE BASICS

* South Dakota does not permit online voter registration.

* South Dakota permits early voting and no-excuse absentee/mail-in voting.

* In South Dakota, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

* South Dakota requires photo identification to vote.

* In South Dakota, the Democratic Party conducts a semi-closed primary, in which both registered party members and unaffiliated voters may participate. The Republican Party limits participation in its primary to registered party members.

* South Dakota has an online tool for verifying voter registration and checking the status of absentee ballots.

Below, you will find details on the following election administration topics in South Dakota:

* Poll times
* Voter registration
* Early and absentee/mail-in voting policy[1]
* Voter identification requirements
* Provisional ballot rules
* Primary election type
* Time off work for voting
* Electioneering
* Voting rules for people convicted of a felony

* Voter list maintenance
* Post-election auditing
* Election administration authorities
* Election policy ballot measures
* Election policy legislation
* Ballot access
* Redistricting
* Contact information

## Contents

* 1 Poll times
* 2 Voter registration
* 2.1 Automatic registration
* 2.2 Online registration
* 2.3 Same-day registration
* 2.4 Residency requirements
* 2.5 Verification of citizenship
* 2.6 Verifying your registration
* 3 Early and absentee/mail-in voting policy
* 3.1 Early voting
* 3.2 Absentee/mail-in voting
* 3.2.1 Returning absentee/mail-in ballots
* 3.2.2 Drop box availability
* 3.2.3 Signature requirements and cure provisions
* 3.2.4 Was your absentee/mail-in ballot counted?
* 4 Voter identification requirements
* 5 Provisional ballot rules
* 6 Primary election type
* 7 Time off work for voting
* 8 Electioneering
* 9 Voting rules for people convicted of a felony
* 10 Voter list maintenance
* 10.1 When names can be removed from the voter list
* 10.2 Inactive voter list rules
* 10.3 The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)
* 11 Post-election auditing
* 12 Election administration authorities
* 12.1 State election officials
* 12.2 Local election officials
* 13 Election policy ballot measures
* 14 Recent legislation related to election administration in South Dakota
* 14.1 Explore election legislation with Ballotpedia
* 15 Ballot access
* 16 Redistricting
* 16.1 State process
* 17 Contact information
* 17.1 Election agencies
* 18 Ballotpedia's election coverage
* 19 See also
* 19.1 Elections in South Dakota
* 20 External links
* 21 Footnotes

## Poll times[edit]

See also: State poll opening and closing times

In South Dakota, all polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. South Dakota is divided between Central and Mountain time zones. Anyone in line when the polls close must be allowed to vote.[2]

## Voter registration[edit]

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in South Dakota, an applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of South Dakota, at least 18 years old by the day of the next election, not currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction, and not be judged mentally incompetent by a court of law.[3]

The deadline to register to vote is 15 days before the next election. To register, an applicant may submit a voter registration form to the county auditor. Prospective voters can also register in person at the county auditor's office, city finance offices, driver's license stations, Department of Human Services offices, certain public assistance agencies, or military recruitment offices.[3]

### Automatic registration[edit]

See also: Automatic voter registration

South Dakota does not practice automatic voter registration.[4]

### Online registration[edit]

See also: Online voter registration

South Dakota does not permit online voter registration.

### Same-day registration[edit]

See also: Same-day voter registration

South Dakota does not allow same-day voter registration.[5]

### Residency requirements[edit]

To register to vote in South Dakota, you must be a resident of the state "for at least thirty consecutive days."[6][3]

### Verification of citizenship[edit]

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

South Dakota does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.[7]

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[8] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

### Verifying your registration[edit]

The South Dakota Secretary of State’s office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting the Voter Information Portal.

## Early and absentee/mail-in voting policy[edit]

### Early voting[edit]

See also: Early voting

South Dakota permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting allows citizens to cast their ballots in person at a polling place before an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting. Alabama, Mississippi, and New Hampshire do not offer no-excuse early voting.

### Absentee/mail-in voting[edit]

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

All voters are eligible for absentee/mail-in voting in South Dakota and there are no special eligibility requirements.[9][10]

An absentee/mail-in ballot application must be received by county election officials before 5 p.m. or the close of business the day before the election, whichever is later. A completed absentee/mail-in ballot must then be received by election officials by the close of polls on Election Day.[9]

All states allow for some form of absentee/mail-in voting. Seven states and the District of Columbia had automatic mail-in ballot systems that mandate that all eligible voters receive an absentee/mail ballot by default. An eighth state, Vermont, had such a system for general elections only.

Twenty-eight states allow any eligible voter to cast an absentee/mail-in ballot. The remaining 14 states required voters to provide an excuse to receive and cast an absentee/mail ballot. Acceptable excuses vary by state.

#### Returning absentee/mail-in ballots[edit]

See also: Mail ballot collection and return laws by state

Voters in South Dakota can return their absentee/mail-in ballots by mail or in person, or by designating someone to deliver it for them. Ballots should be returned to the person in charge of the election, generally a county election official.[11] An absentee/mail-in ballot delivered to a polling place after the polls have closed will not be opened or counted.[12] Voters who are confined due to sickness or disability can apply for an authorized messenger to obtain and return their ballot for them.[9]

Eighteen states allow anyone chosen by the voter to return a ballot on the voter's behalf, with certain exceptions, while 16 states allow anyone with certain relationships to the voter to return the voter's ballot. Four states allow only the voter to return the voter's ballot, with certain exceptions, and two states required voters to return their ballots by mail. Ten states and D.C. do not specify who may return ballots.

#### Drop box availability[edit]

South Dakota law does not allow for drop boxes as a valid method of returning an absentee/mail-in ballot.[11]

#### Signature requirements and cure provisions[edit]

Absentee/mail-in ballots in South Dakota include a return envelope with a statement printed on the outside. A voter must seal his or her ballot inside the envelope and sign it.[11] The election board compares the signature on the absentee ballot envelope to the signature on the voter’s absentee ballot application. If the statement is not signed or the board determines that the application and the ballot statement were not signed by the same person, the ballot will not be counted. South Dakota does not have a cure provision, or a law allowing voters to correct a problem with the signature on their absentee/mail-in ballot.[13]

Thirty-three states have laws that include cure provisions, while 16 states do not. One state, Pennsylvania, allows counties to establish a cure process. Twenty-four states explicitly allow voters to cure their ballots after Election Day, six states require that curing take place on or before Election Day, and three states do not stipulate ballot curing timelines in statute.

#### Was your absentee/mail-in ballot counted?[edit]

Voters can use the Voter Information Portal provided by the South Dakota Secretary of State to check the status of their absentee ballot or application.

## Voter identification requirements[edit]

See also: Voter ID in South Dakota
See also: Voter identification laws by state

South Dakota requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[14]

The following were accepted forms of identification as of October 2025. Click here for the South Dakota Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

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* South Dakota driver's license or nondriver ID card
* U.S. government photo ID
* U.S. passport
* U.S. Armed Forces ID
* Current student photo identification card from a South Dakota high school or South Dakota-accredited institution of higher education
* Tribal photo ID[15]

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If a voter does not have a photo ID, he or she can sign a personal identification affidavit. The voter will then be given a regular ballot.[14]

Thirty-six states require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day. Of these states, 24 require voters to present identification containing a photograph, and 12 accept other forms of identification. The remaining 14 states do not require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day.

Valid forms of identification differ by state. In certain states that require voters to provide identification, there may be exceptions that allow some voters to cast a ballot without providing an ID. To see more about these exceptions, see details by state. Commonly accepted forms of ID include driver's licenses, state-issued identification cards, passports, and military identification cards.

## Provisional ballot rules[edit]

Voters in South Dakota are given provisional ballots, or ballots requiring additional steps or information before they can be counted, under the following circumstances:

(1) If the voter "swears that he or she is registered to vote in that precinct but whose name does not appear on the voter registration list for that precinct," the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.[16]

(2) If the voter’s identity cannot be proven, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.[17]

(3) If the voter’s eligibility to vote is challenged, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.[18]

A provisional ballot is rejected if the voter is not registered to vote.[19]

## Primary election type[edit]

See also: Primary elections in South Dakota

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. South Dakota law allows parties to choose whether to let unaffiliated voters vote in their elections. For more information on recognized political parties in South Dakota and their primary policies, see here.[20]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

## Time off work for voting[edit]

In South Dakota, if employees do not have two consecutive hours while off work to vote, employers must allow for two hours of  paid time off. Failure to provide time off constitutes a misdemeanor.

“  | Any person entitled to vote at any election held within this state, including a primary election, shall, on the day of such election, be entitled to absent himself from any service or employment in which he is then engaged or employed for a period of two consecutive hours between the time of opening and the time of closing the polls; provided such person does not have a period of two consecutive hours during the time the polls are open during which he is not required to be present at his work or place of employment. Such voter is not, because of so absenting himself, liable to any penalty, nor may any deduction be made on account of such absence from his usual salary or wages. The employer may specify the hours during which such employee may absent himself as aforesaid.

An employer who refuses an employee the privilege conferred by this section or who subjects an employee to a penalty or reduction of wages because of the exercise of such privilege or who directly or indirectly violates this section is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.[21][15]

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Twenty-eight states require employers to grant employees time off to vote. Within these 28 states, policies vary as to whether that time off must be paid and how much notice must be given.

## Electioneering[edit]

South Dakota state law restricts certain activities inside polling places and within 100 feet of the entrance to a polling place. State laws says:[22]

“  | Except for sample ballots and materials and supplies necessary for the conduct of the election, no person may, in any polling place or within or on any building in which a polling place is located or within one hundred feet from any entrance leading into a polling place, maintain a campaign office or public address system, or use any communication or photographic device in a manner which repeatedly distracts, interrupts, or intimidates any voter or election worker, or display campaign posters, signs, or other campaign materials or by any like means solicit any votes for or against any person or political party or position on a question submitted or which may be submitted.[15] | ”

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In addition, state law prohibits any person from engaging "in any practice which interferes with the voter's free access to the polls or disrupts the administration of the polling place, or conduct any petition signature gathering, on the day of an election, within one hundred feet of a polling place."[22]

Electioneering in violation of state law is a Class 2 misdemeanor.[22]

## Voting rules for people convicted of a felony[edit]

See also: Voting rights for people convicted of a felony

According to the South Dakota Secretary of State's office, "a person currently serving a felony conviction in either federal or state court shall be removed from the voter registration records. A person so disqualified becomes eligible to register to vote upon completion of his or her sentence. A person who receives a suspended imposition of sentence does not lose the right to vote."[23] The loss of voting rights continues as long as the person is on parole or probation.[24]

Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[25]

## Voter list maintenance[edit]

All states have rules under which they maintain voter rolls, or check and remove certain names from their lists of registered voters. Most states are subject to the parameters set by the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).[26] The NVRA requires states to make efforts to remove deceased individuals and individuals who have become ineligible due to a change of address. It prohibits removing registrants from voter lists within 90 days of a federal election due to a change of address unless a registrant has requested to be removed, or from removing people from voter lists solely because they have not voted. The NVRA says that states may remove names from their registration lists under certain other circumstances and that their methods for removing names must be uniform and nondiscriminatory.[27]

#### When names can be removed from the voter list[edit]

South Dakota law authorizes election officials to remove the names of voters from the registered voting list if an individual:[28][29][30]

* confirms in writing that they have moved outside of their voting jurisdiction
* dies
* is declared mentally incompetent
* is incarcerated for a felony conviction
* remains on the inactive voter list through two consecutive general elections.

#### Inactive voter list rules[edit]

South Dakota law requires local election officials to send a nonforwardable mailing to registered voters who have not voted, updated their voter registration information, or replied to a confirmation mailing in the past four years.

If the mailing is returned as undeliverable, a second confirmation mailing is sent. If that notice is not returned or is returned as undeliverable, the voter is to be listed as inactive. If the voter remains in inactive status through two consecutive general elections, their registration is to be canceled.[31][32][30]

#### The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)[edit]

See also: Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)

According to its website, ERIC is a nonprofit corporation that is governed by a board of member states. These member states submit voter registration and motor vehicle registration information to ERIC. ERIC uses this information, as well as Social Security death records and other sources, to provide member states with reports showing voters who have moved within their state, moved out of their state, died, have duplicate registrations in their state, or are potentially eligible to vote but are not yet registered. ERIC's website describes its funding as follows: "Members fund ERIC. New members pay a one-time membership fee of $25,000, which is reserved for technology upgrades and other unanticipated expenses. Members also pay annual dues. Annual dues cover operating costs and are based, in part, on the citizen voting age population in each state."[33]

Twenty-five states are participating members in the ERIC program. Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia have joined and participated in ERIC at some point.[34]

As of October 2025, South Dakota was not participating in the ERIC program.[35]

## Post-election auditing[edit]

South Dakota requires post-election audits. According to state law, "The post-election audit must be conducted in five percent of the precincts in the county by manually counting all votes cast in two contests and comparing the results of the manual count to the results for those precincts at the county canvass." The audit occurs within 15 days of the state canvassing of an election.[36][37]

Post-election audits check that election results tallied by a state's voting system match results from paper records, such as paper ballots filled out by voters or the paper records produced by electronic voting machines. Post-election audits are classified into two categories: audits of election results—which include traditional post-election audits as well as risk-limiting audits—and procedural audits.[38][39]

Typically, traditional post-election audits are done by recounting a portion of ballots, either electronically or by hand, and comparing the results to those produced by the state's voting system. In contrast, risk-limiting audits use statistical methods to compare a random sample of votes cast to election results instead of reviewing every ballot. The scope of procedural audits varies by state, but they typically include a systematic review of voting equipment, performance of the voting system, vote totals, duties of election officials and workers, ballot chain of custody, and more.

Forty-nine states and the District of Columbia require some form of post-election audit by law. Of these, 35 states and the District of Columbia require traditional post-election audits, while seven states require risk-limiting post-election audits, and seven states require some other form of post-election audit, including procedural post-election audits.[40][38]

## Election administration authorities[edit]

### State election officials[edit]

In South Dakota, the  secretary of state is the state's chief election official. The secretary of state is elected by popular vote every four years.

The secretary of state also serves as the chairperson of the South Dakota State Board of Elections. The seven-member board includes four positions appointed by the majority and minority leaders of the  state senate and  state house of representatives, as well as two county auditors.[41] According to the South Dakota Secretary of State's office, there are four main functions of the board:[41]

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* SDCL 12-1-9 provides the Board with rule-making authority to promulgate administrative rules dealing with many aspects of election conduct.

* SDCL 12-1-10 requires the Board to make recommendations to the Secretary of State regarding desirable election law changes.

* SDCL 12-1-21 designates the Board to resolve any complaints filed under Section 402 of the Help America Vote Act.

* SDCL 12-17B-2 allows the Board to certify automated ballot tabulating systems before they may be used in the state.[15]

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### Local election officials[edit]

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Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool.|

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## Election policy ballot measures[edit]

See also: Elections and campaigns on the ballot and List of South Dakota ballot measures

Ballotpedia has tracked the following ballot measures relating to election and campaign policy in South Dakota.

1. South Dakota Initiated Measure 24, Ban Out-of-State Contributions to Ballot Question Committees Initiative (2018)
2. South Dakota Constitutional Amendment W, State Campaign Finance and Lobbying Laws, Government Accountability Board, and Initiative Process Amendment (2018)
3. South Dakota Constitutional Amendment H, Top-Two Primary Elections Initiative (2024)
4. South Dakota Amendment V, Top-Two Primary Amendment (2016)

## Recent legislation related to election administration in South Dakota[edit]

The table below lists bills related to election administration that have been introduced during (or carried over to) the current legislative session in South Dakota. The following information is included for each bill:

* State
* Bill number
* Official bill name or caption
* Most recent action date
* Legislative status
* Sponsor party
* Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

### Explore election legislation with Ballotpedia[edit]

* Try Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker

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* Read Ballotpedia's State of Election Administration Legislation Reports

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## Ballot access[edit]

See also: Ballot access requirements for political candidates in South Dakota

In order to get on the ballot in South Dakota, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in South Dakota. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, click here. Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

## Redistricting[edit]

See also: Redistricting in South Dakota

Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. South Dakota's one United States Representative and 105 state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts. United States Senators are not elected by districts, but by the states at large. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.[42][43][44][45]

South Dakota was apportioned 1 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, the same number it received after the 2010 census. Click here for more information about redistricting in South Dakota after the 2020 census.

HIGHLIGHTS

* Following the 2020 United States Census, South Dakota was apportioned one congressional seat, which was unchanged from the number it had after the 2010 census.

* South Dakota's state legislature is made up of 35 districts, each of which elects one senator and two representatives.

* South Dakota is home to a single at-large congressional district; as such, congressional redistricting is not necessary. State legislative districts are drawn by the state legislature.

### State process[edit]

See also: State-by-state redistricting procedures

South Dakota is home to a single at-large congressional district; as such, congressional redistricting is not necessary. State legislative districts are drawn by the state legislature. A simple majority vote in each chamber is required to pass a redistricting plan, which is subject to veto by the governor.[46]

The South Dakota Constitution mandates that state legislative districts be contiguous and compact. State statutes "ask that districts protect communities of interest and respect geographical and political boundaries." Because these latter requirements are statutory, they can be modified by the state legislature at its discretion.[46]

## Contact information[edit]

### Election agencies[edit]

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in South Dakota can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

South Dakota County Auditors

Click here for a list

South Dakota Secretary of State

Capitol Building
500 East Capitol Avenue, Suite 204
Pierre, South Dakota 57501-5070
Phone: 605-773-3537
Fax: 605-773-6580
Email: elections@state.sd.us
Website: https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/default.aspx

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
Website: https://www.eac.gov

## Ballotpedia's election coverage[edit]

Click the tiles below to navigate to 2025 election coverage:

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Democratic primaries 2026

* United States Senate Democratic Party primaries, 2026
* United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2026
* Democratic Party gubernatorial primaries, 2026
* Democratic Party Secretary of State primaries, 2026
* Democratic Party Attorney General primaries, 2026
* State legislative Democratic primaries, 2026

Republican primaries 2026

* United States Senate Republican Party primaries, 2026
* United States House Republican Party primaries, 2026
* Republican Party gubernatorial primaries, 2026
* Republican Party Secretary of State primaries, 2026
* Republican Party Attorney General primaries, 2026
* State legislative Republican primaries, 2026

## See also[edit]

* Election laws and legislation in South Dakota
* State of Election Administration Legislation Reports
* Factors affecting the speed of ballot counting and delivery of unofficial election results
* Voting in South Dakota
* Ballot access requirements for political candidates in South Dakota
* Redistricting in South Dakota

### Elections in South Dakota[edit]

* South Dakota elections, 2026
* South Dakota elections, 2025
* South Dakota elections, 2024
* South Dakota elections, 2023
* South Dakota elections, 2022
* South Dakota elections, 2021
* South Dakota elections, 2020

* South Dakota elections, 2019
* South Dakota elections, 2018
* South Dakota elections, 2017
* South Dakota elections, 2016
* South Dakota elections, 2015
* South Dakota elections, 2014

## External links[edit]

* South Dakota Secretary of State - Elections
* South Dakota Voter Information Portal

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ We use the term "absentee/mail-in voting" to describe systems in which requests or applications are required. We use the term "all-mail voting" to denote systems where the ballots themselves are sent automatically to all voters. We use the hyphenate term for absentee voting because some states use “mail voting” (or a similar alternative) to describe what has traditionally been called "absentee voting."
2. ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, “General Voting Information,” accessed October 30, 2025
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 South Dakota Secretary of State, “Register to Vote, Update Voter Registration or Cancel Voter Registration,” accessed October 30, 2025
4. ↑ NCSL, "Automatic Voter Registration," accessed October 30, 2025
5. ↑ NCSL, "Same-Day Voter Registration," accessed October 30, 2025
6. ↑ 2025 South Dakota Legislature, "HB 1066," accessed October 30, 2025
7. ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "South Dakota Voter Registration Form," accessed October 30, 2025
8. ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 South Dakota Secretary of State, "Voting by Absentee Ballot," accessed October 30, 2025
10. ↑ South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council, "S.D. Codified Laws Ann. §12-19-1," accessed October 30, 2025
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council, “"S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 12-19-7,” accessed October 30, 2025
12. ↑ South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council, “"S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 12-19-12,” accessed October 30, 2025
13. ↑ South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council, “"S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 12-19-10,” accessed October 30, 2025
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 South Dakota Secretary of State, "General Voting Information," accessed October 30, 2025
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
16. ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "Help America Vote Act (HAVA)," accessed October 30, 2025
17. ↑ South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council, "S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 12-18-6.3," accessed October 30, 2025
18. ↑ South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council, "S.D. Codified Laws Ann. §12-18-39," accessed October 30, 2025
19. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Provisional Ballots," accessed November 4, 2025
20. ↑ South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council, "S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 12–6–26," accessed October 30, 2025
21. ↑ South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council, "Codified Laws," accessed October 30, 2025
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council, "S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 12-18-3," accessed October 30, 2025
23. ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "Felony Convictions," accessed October 30, 2025
24. ↑ U.S. Department of Justice, "Guide to State Voting Rules That Apply After a Criminal Conviction," accessed October 30, 2025
25. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," October 30, 2025
26. ↑ As of January 2026, the Justice Department notes, "Six States (Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) are exempt from the NVRA because, on and after August 1, 1994, they either had no voter-registration requirements or had election-day voter registration at polling places with respect to elections for federal office."
27. ↑ The United States Department of Justice, "The National Voter Registration Act of 1993," accessed January 12, 2026
28. ↑ South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council, "S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 12-4-12," accessed October 30, 2025
29. ↑ 'South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council, "S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 12-4-18," accessed October 30, 2025
30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 'South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council, "S.D. Codified Laws Ann. §12-4-19.4," accessed October 30, 2025
31. ↑ South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council, "S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 12-4-19," accessed October 30, 2025
32. ↑ South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council, "S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 12-4-19.2," accessed October 30, 2025
33. ↑ ERIC, "FAQ," accessed January 12, 2026
34. ↑ ERIC, "Who We Are," accessed January 12, 2026
35. ↑ ERIC, "About," accessed October 30, 2025
36. ↑ South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council, "S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 12-17B-18," accessed October 30, 2025
37. ↑ South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council, "S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 12-17B-20," accessed October 30, 2025
38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 National Conference of State Legislatures, "Post-Election Audits," accessed January 12, 2026
39. ↑ Election Assistance Commission, "Election Audits Across the United States," accessed January 12,2026
40. ↑ Ballotpedia research conducted in October 2024, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 South Dakota Secretary of State, "State Board of Elections," accessed October 30, 2025
42. ↑ All About Redistricting, "Why does it matter?" accessed April 8, 2015
43. ↑ Indy Week, "Cracked, stacked and packed: Initial redistricting maps met with skepticism and dismay," June 29, 2011
44. ↑ The Atlantic, "How the Voting Rights Act Hurts Democrats and Minorities," June 17, 2013
45. ↑ Redrawing the Lines, "The Role of Section 2 - Majority Minority Districts," accessed April 6, 2015
46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 All About Redistricting, "South Dakota," accessed April 23, 2015

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