Write-in votes are not allowed.
South Dakota has three electoral votes.            
Candidates are certified for eligibility from the national parties that submit them.

2012 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CALENDAR

January 1, 2012

Earliest day for independent candidates to circulate and file nominating petitions. (SDCL 12-7-1.1)

Deadline for a new political party to file petitions declaring organization with the Secretary of State to participate in presidential primary election. (SDCL 12-5-1)

Deadline for political parties to certify slates of national convention delegates to the Secretary of State for inclusion on presidential primary ballot. (SDCL 12-5-3.8)

Deadline for presidential candidates to have filed on their behalf a statement of intent to be a candidate. (SDCL 12-5-3.14)

Presidential Primary Election Day. (SDCL 12-2-1)

Last day for independent presidential candidates to file nominating petitions with the Secretary of State. (SDCL 12-7-7)

General Election Day
Polls open 7:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m.

South Dakota has two recognized political parties which may participate in the primary election--the Democratic Party and Republican Party. These parties have adopted procedures according to law (SDCL 12-5-3.6 & 3.7) for selection of their delegates to the national political party conventions. This information is available from the party central committees.

Party Contact Information

SDCL 12-5-3.8 provides "If a political party chooses to have a primary for selection of its delegates and alternates to the national convention, it shall certify the slates to the secretary of state by the last Tuesday in March preceding the primary by five o'clock p.m. The slates certified shall be placed on the ballot by the secretary of state and the position of the slates on the primary ballot shall be chosen by lot by the secretary of state. The certification shall be deemed to be filed if mailed by registered mail by five o'clock p.m. on the last Tuesday in March."

SDCL 12-5-3.14 provides "Any candidate, committee or group supporting a candidate in any presidential primary, shall, by the last Tuesday in March prior to the presidential primary election, notify the secretary of state of an intention to have the name of the candidate placed on the presidential primary election ballot or submit a slate of candidates or both."

South Dakota has a closed presidential and state primary election on June 5, 2012.

NEW POLITICAL PARTIES

New Political Parties

INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES

Independent candidates for president may be on the general election ballot by petition. Any person interested in becoming a candidate must file a certification with the Secretary of State indicating the name of the candidate's vice-presidential running mate prior to circulating petitions to put the names of the presidential electors on the general election ballot (SDCL 12-7-7).

The petitions must contain signatures of 3,171 registered South Dakota voters. Petitions may be circulated beginning on January 1, 2012, and filed no later than August 7, 2012, at 5:00 p.m. with the Secretary of State.

Petition and certification forms are prescribed by the State Board of Elections and are available from the Secretary of State's Office, Attn: Elections, 500 E. Capitol, Pierre, SD 57501-5070 or are available on our website:  www.sdsos.gov  

CAMPAIGN FINANCE

There are not separate reporting guidelines for federal candidates on a statewide level.
To view federal campaign finance reporting:
www.fec.gov

Current Election Code