You can find your polling place online by visiting the Voter Information Portal. Your polling place is also listed on your voter confirmation card that you received from the county election official after registering.

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

Bring Identification

All voters who appear at a polling place for the first time must show proof of identification. Approved forms of photo identification include:

• South Dakota driver’s license or nondriver ID card
• U.S. government photo ID
• U.S. Armed Forces ID
• Student photo ID from a South Dakota high school or South Dakota accredited institution of higher education
• Tribal photo ID

If you do not have a photo ID, you can sign a personal identification affidavit.
If you are voting for the first time and intend to vote by absentee ballot, please visit our absentee voter page.

If you do not bring your ID on Election Day, do not worry, you may fill out a personal identification affidavit and still be allowed to vote.

You are not registered to vote until your application has been processed and accepted by your county election official. If accepted, the county election official will send you a confirmation card. If you do not receive a confirmation card within 14 days of the date you submit this application, contact your county election official.

Voters who have a disability, have physical limitations or have limited English proficiency can ask for assistance at the polling place. Voters may also contact their county election official before Election Day to ask for assistance.

Please call (605)773-3537.

Voting by Absentee Ballot

If you are unable to attend your polling place in person on Election Day, you may be eligible to vote by absentee ballot. To vote by absentee ballot, a voter must request an absentee ballot application  from your County Election Official. The County Election Official will send a paper absentee ballot to the voter. The voter then completes the ballot and returns it to the County Election Official.

In South Dakota, the County Election Official must receive your application for absentee ballot no later than 3 p.m. on Election Day. Make sure you are registered before you apply to vote by absentee ballot. You can confirm your registration by visiting the Voter Information Portal.
How to Request an Absentee Ballot

To obtain an absentee ballot application:

• Ensure you are registered to vote. If you are unsure, confirm your registration.
• Download and print an Absentee Ballot Application (PDF) and send it to your County Election Official.

In the event of confinement because of sickness or disability, a qualified voter may apply in writing and obtain an absentee ballot by authorized messenger. An authorized messenger delivers the ballot from the County Election Official to the qualified voter and then delivers the marked ballot to the County Election Official. Any application for a ballot by authorized messenger must be received by the person in charge of the election before 3:00 p.m. the day of the election.

Guide for College Students

If you are a student in South Dakota who has moved to a new county or the state to attend college, you can still vote. As a college student, you have two choices on where you register to vote. You have the right to register and vote where you live now, whether that is an on-campus or off-campus address. Or, you may choose to register or remain registered and vote at your prior home address if your prior address is within the State of South Dakota.

Here’s more of what college students need to know:

In order to vote in any election, you must first be a registered voter. To vote in any election, the voter registration deadline is 15 days before the election.
If you are not registered, please:

• Know the requirements for registering
• Understand how to register

Voting is easy and a right that you should not take for granted. As long as you are registered, you will be able to vote on Election Day. You’ll want to make sure to:

• Know the location of your polling place
• ID requirements

If you cannot make to the polls on Election Day, please cast an absentee ballot.
In South Dakota, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The busiest times of day to vote are before and after normal working hours. If you can, try going at less-busy times. If you are in line by the time the polls close, you must be allowed to cast your vote.

Is this your first time at the polls? Don’t worry. The information below can help you ensure you’re prepared.

• Know what to bring with you on Election Day
• Find tips and other important information for first-time voters

If you will be out of the country and wish to vote, please cast an absentee ballot.

Please call (605)773-3537.

Member of the Military

If you are a member of the military and want to register to vote, please register to vote and send your application to your County Election Official.

Absentee Ballot Applications

If you are a member of the military and unable to attend your polling place in person on Election Day, you may be eligible to vote by absentee ballot. Absentee electors in military service may obtain an absentee ballot several ways:

• Fill out and print an absentee ballot application and mail it to your County Election Official
• Request that the state e-mail an absentee ballot application to your e-mail account. To do this, contact your County Election Official, visit the Voter Information Portal, or visit the Deployed and Overseas Citizens tab on this website.
• Complete and send a Federal Post Card Application Form (Federal Form Number 76A), distributed by the United States Department of Defense and send it to your County Election Official to request an absentee ballot.

If you have questions regarding registering or voting in South Dakota as a member of the military or if you would like the state to mail you a paper voter registration or absentee ballot application, contact the Secretary of State’s Office at (605)773-3537 or elections@state.sd.us.

There are also several important things to keep in mind:

• Only you or an adult member of your immediate family may submit your application for an absentee ballot.
• If you are home on Election Day and have not voted by absentee ballot, you may, if registered, appear at your election district polling place and vote.
• If you are not registered, the voter registration deadline is 15 days before the election.

Absentee Ballots

A military member may receive an absentee ballot electronically. If you want to receive your ballot in this manner, mark the e-mail preference in block 4 on your Federal Post Card Application Form (Federal Form Number 76A) or personally contact your County Election Official by e-mail or phone. You will be notified by e-mail when your ballot is available to download from www.sdsos.gov/deployed. If you do not choose to receive an absentee ballot electronically, your ballot will be mailed to you.

Members of the military voting by absentee ballot must have their ballots received at their polling location prior to the polls closing. If an absentee ballot is delivered to a polling place after the polls are closed, the absentee ballot will not be counted or opened.

Special Write-In Absentee Ballots

Members of the military who are outside the United States on Election Day might receive a special write-in absentee ballot. Election Officials use write-in ballots when they are required by law to provide absentee ballots to absentee voters, but official absentee ballots have not yet been printed.

The special write-in ballot includes all of the offices and questions that will appear on the official ballots for the election district, but not the names of the candidates for the offices. Instead, Election Officials will provide a separate list of candidates who have filed to appear on the official ballot and who have not withdrawn or had their names removed from the ballot by a court.

A special write-in absentee ballot returned to the County Election Official will be handled and counted the same way as an absentee ballot cast on an official absentee ballot.

Learn more about voting by absentee ballot.

Federal Voting Assistance Program

If you will be out of the country and wish to vote, the Federal Voting Assistance Program will guide you through the process at www.fvap.gov.

Person With A Recent Name Change

If you have had a recent name change due to marriage or divorce, you must re-register to vote by completing a new voter registration form. Please make sure to fill out the “Previous Voter Registration Information Required” bottom portion of the registration form. Once completed, please mail the form to your County Election Official.

Citizen with a Disability

In some cases, a polling place may not be easily accessible for those with disabilities. You can contact your local County Election Official if special arrangements are needed.

If your polling place is deemed inaccessible, please cast an absentee ballot.

Overseas Civilian Voter

If you are an overseas civilian voter and want to register to vote, please register to vote and send your application to your County Election Official.

Absentee Ballot Applications

If you are an overseas civilian voter, and unable to attend your polling place in person on Election Day, you may vote by absentee ballot. Absentee voters may obtain an absentee ballot several ways:

• Fill out and print an absentee ballot application and mail it to your County Election Official
• Request that the state e-mail an absentee ballot application to your e-mail account. To do this, contact your County Election Official, visit the Voter Information Portal, or visit the Deployed and Overseas Citizens tab on this website.
• Complete and send a Federal Post Card Application Form (Federal Form Number 76A), distributed by the United States Department of Defense and send it to your County Election Official to request an absentee ballot.

If you have questions regarding registering or voting in South Dakota as an overseas citizen or if you would like the state to mail you a paper voter registration or absentee ballot application, contact the Secretary of State’s Office at (605)773-3537 or elections@state.sd.us.

Absentee Ballots

An overseas civilian voter may receive an absentee ballot electronically. If you want to receive your ballot in this manner, mark the e-mail preference in block 4 on your Federal Post Card Application Form (Federal Form Number 76A) or personally contact your County Election Official by e-mail or phone. You will be notified by e-mail when your ballot is available to download from www.sdsos.gov/deployed. If you do not choose to receive an absentee ballot electronically, your ballot will be mailed to you.

Overseas citizens voting by absentee ballot must have their ballots received at their polling location prior to the polls closing. If an absentee ballot is delivered to a polling place after the polls are closed, the absentee ballot will not be counted or opened.

Special Write-In Absentee Ballots

Overseas civilian voters who are outside the United States on Election Day might receive a special write-in absentee ballot. Election officials use write-in ballots when they are required by law to provide absentee ballots to absentee voters, but official absentee ballots have not yet been printed.

The special write-in ballot includes all of the offices and questions that will appear on the official ballots for the election district, but not the names of the candidates for the offices. Instead, elections officials will provide a separate list of candidates who have filed to appear on the official ballot and who have not withdrawn or had their names removed from the ballot by a court.

A special write-in absentee ballot returned to the County Election Official will be handled and counted the same way as an absentee ballot cast on an official absentee ballot.

Learn more about voting by absentee ballot.

Home on Election Day?

If you are home on Election Day and have not voted by absentee ballot, you may, if registered, appear at your election district polling place and vote.

Federal Voting Assistance Program

If you will be out of the country and wish to vote, the Federal Voting Assistance Program will guide you through the process at www.fvap.gov.

Elderly Voter

If you feel you cannot access your polling place on the day of the election, please fill out an absentee ballot application and mail it to your County Election Official to receive an absentee ballot.

Wanting to Change Party Affiliation

If you decide to change your party affiliation, you must re-register to vote by completing a new voter registration form and mail the form to your County Election Official.