MENU
Select a box and SCROLL DOWN
2004 South Dakota General Election Data
Election Calendar
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| May 4, 2003 | Earliest day for initiated measure petitions to be circulated. (SDCL 2-1-6.2) |
| November 3, 2003 | Deadline for filing petitions to place constitutional amendments on the ballot. (Constitution, Art. XXIII, Sec. 1) |
| January 1, 2004 | Earliest day for June primary or independent candidates to circulate nominating petitions. (SDCL 12-6-4.1, 12-7-1.1) |
| Earliest day for non-presidential independent candidates to file nominating petitions. (SDCL12-7-1) | |
| January 20 | Earliest day for an independent presidential candidate to file nominating petitions. (SDCL 12-7-7) |
| First day a June primary election candidate may file nominating petitions. (SDCL 12-6-4, 12-9-4) | |
| February 2 | Last day for statewide candidates, state office holders, ballot question committees, political party committees and political action committees to file year-end reports of receipts and expenditures for the period of January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2003. (SDCL 12-25-13) See NOTE 3. |
| March 15-20 & 22-27 | Weeks in which county auditor must publish the notice of deadline for filing nominating petitions - ARSD 5:02:04:17. (SDCL 12-12-1) See NOTE 1. |
| March 30 | Last day for candidates to file for withdrawal from the primary election - ARSD 5:02:07:05. (SDCL 12-6-8.1) |
| April 6 | Last day to file primary election nominating petitions. (SDCL 12-6-4, 12-9-4) |
| Last day nominees for party precinct committeeman and committeewoman may file statement of candidacy with the county auditor. (SDCL 12-5-4) | |
| Last day for a new political party to file petitions declaring organization with the Secretary of State. (SDCL 12-5-1) | |
| Last day for presidential candidates to file on their behalf a statement of intent to be a candidate. (SDCL 12-5-3.14) | |
|
Last day for political parties to certify slates of national convention delegates to the secretary of state to participate in the presidential primary election. (SDCL 12-5-3.8) |
| April 8 | Drawing for position on the ballot for the primary election will be held in the office of the Secretary of State at 9:00 a.m. (SDCL 12-16-8) |
| April 9 | Deadline for county central committees to submit names to the county auditor to be used as election board workers. (SDCL 12-15-1) See NOTE 3. |
| April 21 | Last day for candidate to file "Statement of Financial Interest" if nominating petition was filed on last day. This statement must be filed within fifteen days after filing nominating petitions. (SDCL 12-25-28, 12-25-30) |
| April 20 | Deadline for primary election ballots to be printed and in the auditor's possession. Absentee voting may begin as soon as ballots are available. (SDCL 12-16-1, 12-16-17, 12-19-3) |
| April 26-May 1 & May 3-8 | Weeks for notice of voter registration deadline - ARSD 5:02:04:04. (SDCL 12-4-5.2) See NOTES 1 & 2. |
| May 3 | Deadline for Secretary of State to furnish envelopes to the county auditors for official election returns. (SDCL 12-20-37) See NOTE 3. |
| Last day for auditor to submit names of persons to be employed at an electronic voting system counting center to the county chairmen of each party to assure bipartisan representation. (SDCL 12-17B-11) See NOTE 3. | |
| May 4 | Deadline for auditors to fill requests for precinct lists by parties and candidates. (SDCL 12-4-24.1) |
| Deadline for filing of completed petitions for placement of statewide initiated measures on the general election ballot. (SDCL 2-1-2) | |
| May 12 | Deadline for the county auditor to appoint precinct superintendents and deputies for each election precinct. (SDCL 12-15-1, 12-15-2, 12-15-3) |
| May 17-22 & May 24-29 |
Weeks in which county auditor must publish the notice of election - ARSD 5:02:04:16. (SDCL 12-12-1) See NOTES 1 & 2. |
| May 17 | Deadline for voter registration for the primary election. (SDCL 12-4-5) |
| May 22 | First day for test of automatic tabulating equipment in counties using electronic voting systems. Notice of testing must be published at least 48 hours prior to the test - ARSD 5:02:09:01.01. (SDCL 12-17B-5) See NOTE 2. |
| May 23-May 31 | Candidates and committees must file supplemental campaign finance statements with the Secretary of State if they receive an aggregate contribution of $500 or more within the nine days prior to the election. The report must be filed within 48 hours of receipt of the contribution. (SDCL 12-25-13.1) See NOTE 3. |
| May 24 | Deadline for the auditors to inform the Secretary of State of the number of precincts and the kind of voting equipment being used. The Secretary of State also requests voter registration figures at this time. (SDCL 12-14-12, 12-1-7.1) See NOTE 3. |
| May 25 | Deadline for statewide candidate, political action, and state party committees to file pre-primary campaign finance reports with the Secretary of State. Report covers January 1 through May 22. Reports postmarked on or before this date are properly filed. (SDCL 12-25-13) |
| May 24-29 | Week for publication of facsimile ballot. (SDCL 12-16-16) |
| June 1 | PRIMARY ELECTION DAY (SDCL 12-2-1, 12-2-3) Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. legal time. |
| Ballots and election supplies must be delivered to the superintendent of each election precinct prior to the opening of the polls. (SDCL 12-16-18) | |
| No applications for absentee ballots may be honored by the county auditor after 3:00 p.m. on election day. (SDCL 12-19-2.1) | |
| Last day for independent candidates to file nominating petitions with the Secretary of State or county auditor for all offices except president. (SDCL 12-7-1) | |
| June 4 | Last day for county canvass of returns. (SDCL 12-20-36) |
| Certified copies of the official county canvass must be filed with the Secretary of State immediately following the official canvass. (SDCL 12-20-38.1) | |
| June 7 | Last day for filing recount petition by a county candidate assuming canvass was completed on June 4 - ARSD 5:02:19:05. (SDCL 12-21-10) NOTE: Above action must be initiated within three days following completion of the official county canvass. |
| June 8 | Last day for convening the state board of canvassers. (SDCL 12-20-47) |
| June 9 | Last day for Secretary of State to certify runoff candidates to county auditors if no candidate for nomination for United States Senator, United States Representative or Governor received thirty-five percent of the votes cast in the party primary election. (SDCL 12-6-51.3) |
| June 11 | Last day for filing recount petition by legislative and statewide candidates assuming state canvass was completed on June 8 - ARSD 5:02:19:05. County auditor shall notify the Secretary of State of a legislative recount. (SDCL 12-21-11, 12-21-11.1, 12-21-12) NOTE: Above action must be initiated within three days following completion of the official state canvass. |
| June 12-13 | Days for Secretary of State to publish notice of secondary election and facsimile ballot in state newspapers that publish on Saturday and Sunday. (SDCL 12-12-1) |
| June 15 | SECONDARY ELECTION DAY. (SDCL 12-6-51.1) Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. legal time. |
| Ballots and election supplies must be delivered to the superintendent of each election precinct prior to the opening of the polls. (SDCL 12-16-18) | |
| No applications for absentee ballots may be honored by the county auditor after 3:00 p.m. on election day. (SDCL 12-19-2.1) | |
| June 18 | Last day for county canvass of returns for secondary election. (SDCL 12-20-36) |
| Certified copies of the official county canvass must be filed with the Secretary of State immediately following the official canvass. (SDCL 12-20-38.1) | |
| June 22 | Last day for convening of state board of canvassers for secondary election. (SDCL 12-20-47) |
| July 1 | Last day to file conservation district director nominating petitions. (SDCL 38-8-39) |
| Deadline for legislative and county primary election candidates to file reports of receipts and expenditures with Secretary of State or county auditor. (SDCL 12-25-13.3) | |
| Deadline for persons or committees working for or against the passage of a ballot question to file campaign finance reports of receipts and expenditures with the Secretary of State. (SDCL 12-25-19.1) | |
| July 27 | Deadline for Attorney General to submit explanatory statements for ballot questions to the Secretary of State. (SDCL 12-13-9) |
| August 3 | Last day for independent candidates to file nominating petitions for president. (SDCL 12-7-7) |
| Last day for candidates to withdraw nominations - ARSD 5:02:07:05. (SDCL 12-6-55) | |
| August 10 | Last day for party central committees to fill vacancies created by candidates who withdrew their nominations - ARSD 5:02:07:06. (SDCL 12-8-6) |
| Deadline for Secretary of State to certify copies of all ballot questions to the county auditors. (SDCL 12-13-1) | |
| August 12 | Drawing for position on the ballot for the general election will be held in the office of the Secretary of State at 9:00 a.m. (SDCL 12-16-3.1, 12-16-8) |
| August 31 | Last day for Secretary of State to certify to the county auditors the names of all candidates for state and district office to be placed on the general election ballot. (SDCL 12-8-8) |
| September 20 | Deadline for county central committees to submit names to the county auditor to be used as election board workers. (SDCL 12-15-1) See NOTE 3. |
| September 21 | Deadline for all general election ballots to be printed and in the auditor's possession. Absentee voting may begin whenever ballots are available. (SDCL 12-16-1, 12-16-17, 12-19-3) |
| September 27-October 2 & October 4-9 | Weeks for notice of voter registration procedures - ARSD 5:02:04:04. (SDCL 12-4-5.2) See NOTES 1 & 2. |
| October 1 | Deadline for county auditor to mail copies of all submitted questions to the official county newspapers. (SDCL 12-13-2) |
| October 4 | Last day for Secretary of State to furnish county auditors with envelopes for mailing official returns of votes to the office of the Secretary of State. (SDCL 12-20-37) See NOTE 3. |
| Last day for auditor to submit names of persons to be employed at an electronic voting system counting center to the county chairmen of each party to assure bipartisan representation. (SDCL 12-17B-11) See NOTE 3. | |
| October 5 | Deadline for county auditors to fill requests for precinct lists by parties and candidates. (SDCL 12-4-24.1) |
| October 5-19 | Time in which all official county newspapers must publish at least once the full text, statement, title, explanation and the recitation of effect of each submitted ballot question. (SDCL 12-13-3) See NOTE 2. |
| October 13 | Deadline for the county auditor to appoint superintendents and precinct deputies for each election precinct. (SDCL 12-15-1, 12-15-2, 12-15-3) |
| October 18-23 & October 25-30 | Weeks in which the county auditor must publish the notice of the general election - ARSD 5:02:04:05. (SDCL 12-12-1) See NOTES 1 & 2. |
| October 18 | Voter registration deadline for the general election. (SDCL 12-4-5) |
| October 23 | First day for test of electronic voting system tabulating equipment. Notice of the time and place of the test must be published in the official newspaper at least 48 hours prior to testing - ARSD 5:02:09:01.01. (SDCL 12-17B-5) See NOTE 2. |
| October 24-November 1 | Statewide candidates and committees must file supplemental reports with the Secretary of State if they receive an aggregate contribution of $500 or more within the nine days immediately preceding the election. The report must be filed within 48 hours of receipt of the contribution. (SDCL 12-25-13.1) |
| October 25 | Deadline for auditors to inform Secretary of State on the number of precincts and kind of voting equipment being used. The Secretary of State also requests voter registration information in this report. (SDCL 12-14-12, 12-1-7.1) See NOTE 3. |
| October 26 | Deadline for statewide candidates and committees to file pre-general campaign finance reports of receipts and expenditures with the Secretary of State. Report covers May 23 through October 23. Reports postmarked on or before this date are timely submitted. (SDCL 12-25-13) |
| October 25-30 | Week for publication of facsimile ballots. (SDCL 12-16-16) |
| November 2 | GENERAL ELECTION DAY (SDCL 12-2-2, 12-2-3) Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. legal time. |
| Ballots and election supplies must be delivered to the superintendent of each election precinct prior to the opening of the polls. (SDCL 12-16-18) | |
| No applications for absentee ballots may be honored by the county auditor after 3:00 p.m. on election day. (SDCL 12-19-2.1) | |
| November 5 | Last day for the county canvass of election returns. (SDCL 12-20-36) |
| County auditors must immediately send a certified copy of the official county canvass to the Secretary of State as the official returns of the election. (SDCL 12-20-38.1) | |
| November 8 | Last day for filing a recount petition by county candidates, assuming the canvass was completed on November 5 - ARSD 5:02:19:05. (SDCL 12-21-10) NOTE: Above action must be initiated within three days following completion of the official county canvass. |
| November 9 | Last day for convening the state board of canvassers. (SDCL 12-20-47) |
| November 12 | Deadline for petition for recount in precinct by voters of the precinct - ARSD 5:02:19:06. (SDCL 12-21-8) |
| November 15 | Last day for filing recount petition by legislative or statewide candidates, assuming state canvass was completed on November 9 - ARSD 5:02:19:05. County auditor shall notify the Secretary of State of a legislative recount. (SDCL 12-21-11, 12-21-11.1, 12-21-12) See NOTE 3. |
| Last day for a county candidate to initiate action to contest, assuming canvass was completed on November 5 and no recount is in progress. (SDCL 12-22-5) NOTE: Above actions must be initiated within ten days following completion of the official county canvass. | |
| November 19 | Last day for filing petition for recount on a ballot question - ARSD 5:02:19:07. (SDCL 12-21-14) NOTE: Above actions must be initiated within ten days following completion of the official state canvass. |
| Last day for initiating a contest by a legislative or statewide candidate, or by citizens on behalf of a ballot question, assuming the state canvass was completed on November 9 and no recount is in progress. (SDCL 12-22-5) NOTE: Above actions must be initiated within ten days following completion of the official state canvass. | |
| December 31 | Deadline for legislative and county general election candidates to file final reports of receipts and expenditures with the Secretary of State or county auditor. (SDCL 12-25-13.3) |
| February 1, 2005 | Last day for statewide candidates and committees to file year-end reports of campaign finance receipts and expenditures with the Secretary of State. Report covers October 24 through December 31. Reports postmarked on or before this date are timely submitted. (SDCL 12-25-13) |
NOTE 1: At least five days shall intervene between publications which are to be done during consecutive weeks. (SDCL 17-2-17)
NOTE 2: Official notices may not be published on Sunday. (SDCL 1-5-2)
NOTE 3: When a deadline falls on a holiday, Saturday or Sunday, an act may be performed on the next business day. (SDCL 12-1-17)
OFFICIAL SOUTH DAKOTA STATE HOLIDAYS - 2004
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year's Day |
| January 19 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day |
| February 16 | Presidents' Day |
| May 31 | Memorial Day |
| July 4 | Independence Day |
| September 6 | Labor Day |
| October 11 | Native Americans' Day |
| November 11 | Veterans' Day |
| November 25 | Thanksgiving Day |
| December 25 | Christmas Day |
For additional election information contact: Election Supervisor, Secretary of State's Office, 500 E. Capitol, Pierre, SD 57501-5070; 605-773-3537; elections@state.sd.us