South Dakota Secretary of State

General information
Office Type: | Partisan
Office website: | Official Link
Compensation: | $93,046
2020 FY Budget: | $3,092,347
Term limits: | 2 consecutive terms
Structure
Length of term: |  4 years
Authority: | South Dakota Constitution, Article 4, Section 7
Selection Method: | Elected
Current Officeholder
Steve Barnett
Elections
Next election: | November 8, 2022
Last election: | November 6, 2018
Other South Dakota Executive Offices
Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Commissioner of School and Public Lands • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission

## Contents

* 1 Current officeholder
* 2 Authority
* 3 Qualifications
* 4 Elections
* 4.1 2022
* 4.2 2018
* 4.3 2014
* 4.4 Full history
* 4.5 Term limits
* 5 Vacancies
* 6 Duties
* 7 Divisions
* 8 State budget
* 9 Compensation
* 9.1 2020
* 9.2 2019
* 9.3 2018
* 9.4 2017
* 9.5 2016
* 9.6 2015
* 9.7 2014
* 9.8 2013
* 9.9 2010
* 10 Historical officeholders
* 10.1 Secretaries of State
* 10.2 Secretaries of Dakota Territory
* 11 Recent news
* 12 Contact information
* 13 See also
* 14 External links
* 15 Footnotes

The Secretary of State of South Dakota is an elected executive position in the South Dakota state government. The secretary is responsible for maintaining official public documents, registering state lobbyists and administrating corporations, among other duties. The secretary also serves as the chief elections officer and chair of the state board of elections.

South Dakota has a Republican triplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.

## Current officeholder[edit]

The current officeholder is Republican Steve Barnett. He was first elected on November 6, 2018.[1]

## Authority[edit]

The secretary of state's office is established in Article 4, Section 7 of the South Dakota Constitution.

Article IV, Section 7:

There shall be chosen by the qualified electors of the state at the general election of the Governor and every four years thereafter the following constitutional officers: attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, and commissioner of school and public lands, who shall severally hold their offices for a term of four years. Commencing with the 1992 general election, no person may be elected to more than two consecutive terms as attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, or commissioner of school and public lands. [2]

## Qualifications[edit]

There are no specific qualifications for this office.

## Elections[edit]

South Dakota state government organizational chart

Article IV, Section 7 specifies that the secretary of state is to be elected every four years.[2]

### 2022[edit]

See also: South Dakota Secretary of State election, 2022

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

General election

The general election will occur on November 8, 2022.

### 2018[edit]

See also: South Dakota Secretary of State election, 2018

General election

##### General election for South Dakota Secretary of State

Steve Barnett defeated Alexandra Frederick in the general election for South Dakota Secretary of State on November 6, 2018.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Steve Barnett (R)  |

65.2

| 211,064

| Alexandra Frederick (D)  |

34.8

| 112,807

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 323,871
(100.00% precincts reporting)

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

### 2014[edit]

See also: South Dakota secretary of state election, 2014

Republican Shantel Krebs won election on November 4, 2014.

Secretary of State of South Dakota, 2014

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Republican  | Shantel Krebs | 60.2% | 155,647
| Democratic  |  Angelia Schultz | 32.6% | 84,181
| Constitution  |  Lori Stacey | 4% | 10,258
| Libertarian  |  Emmett Reistroffer | 3.2% | 8,328
Total Votes | 258,414
Election results via South Dakota Secretary of State

### Full history[edit]

To view the electoral history dating back to 2002 for the office of South Dakota Secretary of State, click [show] to expand the section.

|

2010

See also: South Dakota Secretary of State election, 2010

On November 2, 2010, Jason Gant won election to the office of South Dakota Secretary of State. He defeated Ben Nesselhuf (D) and Lori Stacey (C) in the general election.

| South Dakota Secretary of State, 2010

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Republican  | Jason Gant | 54.2% | 163,828
| Democratic  |  Ben Nesselhuf  | 39.2% | 118,635
| Constitution  |  Lori Stacey  | 6.6% | 19,971
Total Votes | 302,434
Election results via South Dakota Secretary of State.

2006

On November 7, 2006, Chris Nelson won re-election to the office of South Dakota Secretary of State. He ran unopposed in the general election.

South Dakota Secretary of State, 2006

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Republican  | Chris Nelson Incumbent | 100% | 217,518
Total Votes | 217,518
Election results via South Dakota Secretary of State.

2002

On November 5, 2002, Chris Nelson won election to the office of South Dakota Secretary of State. He defeated Kate Looby (D) and Alex Martin (L) in the general election.

South Dakota Secretary of State, 2002

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Republican  | Chris Nelson | 56.2% | 181,571
| Democratic  |  Kate Looby  | 41.4% | 133,886
| Libertarian  |  Alex Martin  | 2.4% | 7,878
Total Votes | 323,335
Election results via South Dakota Secretary of State.

### Term limits[edit]

Term limits for the secretary of state are defined by Article IV, Section 7 of the South Dakota Constitution, which prevents a secretary of state from being elected to more than two consecutive terms.

South Dakota Constitution, Article IV, Section 7:

There shall be chosen by the qualified electors of the state at the general election of the Governor and every four years thereafter the following constitutional officers: attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, and commissioner of school and public lands, who shall severally hold their offices for a term of four years. Commencing with the 1992 general election, no person may be elected to more than two consecutive terms as attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, or commissioner of school and public lands.

## Vacancies[edit]

Article IV, Section 3 of the state constitution grants the governor the authority to fill any vacancy in the office of secretary of state by appointment.[2]

## Duties[edit]

Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that outlines the key responsibilities of a state executive office; information for the South Dakota Secretary of State has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.

## Divisions[edit]

As of February 2021, divisions within the secretary of state's office included:[3]

* Election Services
* Business Services
* General Services

## State budget[edit]

See also: South Dakota state budget and finances

The budget for the Secretary of State's office in Fiscal Year 2020 was $3,092,347.[4]

## Compensation[edit]

See also: Compensation of state executive officers

See statutes: SD Codified L § 3-8-2.1 (2014)

The secretary of state's annual compensation is set by Title 3, Chapter 8, Section 2 (§ 3-8-2.1) of the South Dakota Codified Laws and it may not be raised or diminished during a term in office, pursuant to Article XII, Section 3 of the South Dakota Constitution.

The secretary of state's base salary is subject to annual rate increases under the General Appropriations Act for each corresponding year.[5]

### 2020[edit]

In 2020, the secretary of state received a salary of $93,046 according to the Council of State Governments.[6]

### 2019[edit]

In 2019, the secretary of state received a salary of $89,700 according to the Council of State Governments.[7]

### 2018[edit]

In 2018, the secretary of state received a salary of $89,700 according to the Council of State Governments.[8]

### 2017[edit]

In 2017, the secretary of state received a salary of $89,700 according to the Council of State Governments.[9]

### 2016[edit]

In 2016, the secretary of state received a salary of $87,341 according to the Council of State Governments.[10]

### 2015[edit]

In 2015, the secretary of state received a salary of $85,629 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]

### 2014[edit]

In 2014, the secretary received a salary of $83,135 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]

### 2013[edit]

In 2013, the secretary received a salary of $80,714 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]

### 2010[edit]

In 2010, the secretary received a salary of $78,363 according to the Council of State Governments.[14]

## Historical officeholders[edit]

### Secretaries of State[edit]

There have been 29 South Dakota Secretaries of State since 1889. Of the 29 officeholders, 25 were Republicans and four were Democrats.[15]

List of officeholders from 1889-Present

#  | Name  | Tenure  | Party
1 | A.O. Ringsrud | 1889 – 1893 |  Republican
2 | Thomas Thorson | 1893 – 1897 |  Republican
3 | William H. Roddle | 1897 – 1901 |  Republican
4 | O.C. Berg | 1901 – 1905 |  Republican
5 | David D. Wipf | 1905 – 1909 |  Republican
6 | Samuel C. Polley | 1909 – 1913 |  Republican
7 | Frank Glasner | 1913 – 1915 |  Republican
8 | Frank M. Rood | 1915 – 1919 |  Republican
9 | C.A. Burkhart | 1919 – 1922b |  Republican
10 | Clarence E. Coyne | 1922 – 1927 |  Republican
11 | Gladys Pyle | 1927 – 1931 |  Republican
12 | Elizabeth Coyne | 1931 – 1933 |  Republican
13 | Myrtle Morrison | 1933 – 1937 |  Democratic
14 | Goldie Wells | 1937 – 1939 |  Democratic
15 | Olive A. Ringsrud | 1939 – 1943 |  Republican
16 | L.M. Larsen | 1943 – 1947 |  Republican
17 | Annamae Riff | 1947 – 1951 |  Republican
18 | Geraldine Ostroot | 1951 – 1957 |  Republican
19 | Clara Halls | 1957 – 1959 |  Republican
20 | Selma Sandness | 1959 – 1961 |  Democratic
21 | Essie Wiedenman | 1961 – 1965 |  Republican
22 | Alma Larson | 1965 – 1973 |  Republican
23 | Lorna B. Herseth | 1973 – 1979 |  Democratic
24 | Alice Kundert | 1979 – 1987 |  Republican
25 | Joyce Hazeltine | 1987 – 2003 |  Republican
26 | Chris Nelson | 2003 – 2011 |  Republican
27 | Jason Gant | 2011 – 2015 |  Republican
28 | Shantel Krebs | 2015 – 2019 |  Republican
29 | Steve Barnett | 2019 – present |  Republican

### Secretaries of Dakota Territory[edit]

Between 1861 and 1889 there were 10 Secretaries of Dakota Territory.[15]

List of officeholders from 1861-1889

#  | Name  | Tenure
1 | John Hutchinson | 1861 – 1865
2 | S.L. Spink | 1865 – 1869
3 | T.M. Wilkins | 1869 – 1870
4 | G.A. Batchelder | 1870 – 1872
5 | Edwin S. McCook | 1872 – 1873
6 | Oscar Whitney | 1873 – 1874
7 | George A. Hand | 1874 – 1883
8 | J.M. Tellre | 1883 – 1886
9 | Michael L. McCormack | 1886 – 1889
10 | L.B. Richardson | 1889

## Recent news[edit]

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms South Dakota Secretary of State. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

South Dakota Secretary of State - Google News

## Contact information[edit]

South Dakota Secretary of State
500 East Capitol Avenue, Suite 204
Pierre, SD 57501-5070

## See also[edit]

South Dakota | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis

|
|

South Dakota State Executive Offices South Dakota State Legislature South Dakota Courts |  2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 South Dakota elections: 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 |  Party control of state government State government trifectas State of the state addresses Partisan composition of governors

## External links[edit]

| Suggest a link

|

* Office of the South Dakota Secretary of State

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ Office of the South Dakota Secretary of State, "Home," accessed February 2, 2021
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 South Dakota Legislature, "South Dakota Constitution," accessed February 2, 2021
3. ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "Contact Us," accessed February 2, 2021
4. ↑ South Dakota Bureau Finance and Management, "Governor's Budget FY 2021," accessed February 2, 2021
5. ↑ Justia.com, "2014 South Dakota Codified Laws: Title 3 - PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES: Chapter 08 - Compensation of Officers and Employees § 3-8-2.1: Adjustment of salaries of constitutional officers and judges," accessed February 2, 2021
6. ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed February 2, 2021
7. ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed February 2, 2021
8. ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed February 2, 2021
9. ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed February 2, 2021
10. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
11. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
12. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 8, 2014
13. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," January 28, 2014
14. ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed May 14, 2011
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 South Dakota Blue Book 2009, "Chapter 4," accessed February 2, 2021

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