County officials
County commissioner candidates must reside in the applicable district or county for an at-large office. State's attorney candidates must be licensed to practice law.
South Dakota · 2026 Elections
Qualifications to Hold Office & Term Limits
A summary of age, citizenship, residency, voter, professional, and term-limit requirements for public office.
State and Federal Offices
General qualification summary
| Office | General qualifications | Term limits or term information |
|---|---|---|
| President | 35 years old; natural-born U.S. citizen; 14 years U.S. residency | Federal constitutional requirements |
| U.S. Senator | 30 years old; nine years a U.S. citizen; inhabitant of the state when elected | Federal constitutional requirements |
| U.S. Representative | 25 years old; seven years a U.S. citizen; inhabitant of the state when elected | Federal constitutional requirements |
| Governor / Lieutenant Governor | U.S. citizen; 21 years old; two years state residency | Two consecutive terms |
| Legislator | 21 years old; qualified voter; two years state residency; other constitutional qualifications | Four consecutive House terms and four consecutive Senate terms |
| Public Utilities Commissioner | 25 years old; qualified voter; two years state residency; conflict-of-interest restrictions | See applicable law |
| Circuit Court Judge | U.S. citizen; state resident; voter in circuit; licensed to practice law | See judicial provisions |
| Supreme Court Justice | U.S. citizen; state resident; voter in represented district; licensed to practice law | Eight-year retention term |
Local Offices
County, municipal, and school requirements
Certification of qualification
Sheriff candidates must obtain and timely file the certification required by SDCL 23-3-43.1. Failure to file the certification prevents the candidate's name from being placed on the ballot.
Municipal officials
A candidate must be a qualified voter and resident of the municipality and meet the applicable residency and ward requirements.
School board members
A candidate must be a resident voter of the school district and may not hold an incompatible office.
Confirm the current law
This page is a summary. Candidates should review the applicable constitutional provision, statute, administrative rule, charter, and filing-office guidance for the office sought.