Voting in
South Dakota

SDUpdated February 1, 2026

Your Voting Cheat Sheet

South Dakota offers no-excuse absentee voting and early in-person voting starting 46 days before Election Day at the county auditor's office. Photo ID is required. Online voter registration is not available.

No-Excuse Absentee

Upcoming Elections in South Dakota

General

2026 Federal Midterm General Election

Nationwide

The 2026 midterm general election determines control of Congress and numerous governorships. All 435 U.S. House seats, approximately 33-34 U.S. Senate seats, and 36 governorships are on the ballot.

Key Races
  • U.S. Senate (33-34 seats)
  • U.S. House of Representatives (all 435 seats)
  • Gubernatorial races (36 states)
  • +3 more
249 days away

Registration Deadlines

234 days until earliest deadline
By MailOctober 19, 2026
In PersonOctober 19, 2026
Register Now

Quick Facts

Online Registration
No
Same-Day Registration
No
Voter ID Required
Yes
No-Excuse Absentee
Yes

Voter ID Requirements

South Dakota requires a photo ID to vote. Acceptable forms include a South Dakota driver's license, passport, student ID from a South Dakota school, or tribal photo ID. Voters without ID can sign a personal identification affidavit.

Early Voting

StartsSeptember 18, 2026
EndsNovember 2, 2026

Absentee / Mail-In Voting

No-Excuse Absentee Yes
Request DeadlineOctober 30, 2026
Return DeadlineNovember 3, 2026

Election Day Polling Hours

7:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Election Day: November 3, 2026

Key Facts

  • Photo ID is required; an affidavit option exists for voters without ID
  • No online voter registration is available
  • Early in-person voting begins 46 days before Election Day at county auditor offices
  • No-excuse absentee voting by mail is available
  • Registration deadline is 15 days before the election

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