South Dakota
40th State
November 2, 1889
"The Mount Rushmore State"

Election Calendar
What's On My Ballot?
Poll Times
Voter & Voting 101
Election Office
Presidential Election
US Senate
US House
State Government
What's My District?

Calendar

State Primary:
June 7, 2022
Runoff (if necessary):
August 16, 2022

Election Day:
November 8, 2022

"A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people."

- John F Kennedy

Election Races!
What's On My Ballot?

Click on the button below, look for "Find what's on your Ballot" and type in your address.

Hint:  For curious minded folks, checking your races is an easy way to discover each district you live in, from Federal to Local!

Poll Opening & Closing Times

Polls are open in South Dakota from
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM
local time.

These times are general. Your polling place may open or close at a different time.

"If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter."

- George Washington

Voter & Voting 101

See upcoming election dates & deadlines
Eligibility requirements
ID requirements
Voter materials transmission options
Lookup tools: Am I registered to vote?

South Dakota Election Office

Get voter registration & info
Polling places and times
Absentee voting
Ballot measures
District maps
Election FAQ

"Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves; and, under a just God, can not long retain it."

- Abraham Lincoln

Presidential Elections

2024 Presidential Primary:
 TBD 

2024 Presidential Election:
November 5, 2024

How the electoral college works...
3 = the number of electoral votes for the state of South Dakota.
538 = the total number of electoral votes in the Electoral College.
270 = number of electoral votes necessary to WIN the Presidential election!

Electoral votes are divvied up based on the Census. Each state gets a number of votes equal to the number of Senators plus Representatives in its U.S. Congressional delegation.
South Dakota = 3 electoral votes (2 US Senators + 1 US House Rep).
South Dakota awards its 3 electoral votes to the Presidential candidate who wins the election in South Dakota.
The first candidate to reach 270 wins the Presidency!

Why 270? If you divide 538 (total electoral votes) in half = 269 = A tie. Therefore, when a candidate hits 270, they have the majority of states electoral votes needed to win.

US Senate

2 = the number of US Senators from South Dakota.
2 = the number of US Senators per state.
100 = the total number of Senators in the US Senate.
  
50 states x 2 US Senators per state = 100 US Senators.
50 Republicans
48 Democrats
2 Independents
  
Length of term: 6 years.
Term limits: no.
  
In the case of a TIE VOTE in the Senate, the Vice-President casts the tie-breaking vote.

US House Of Representatives

1 = number of Members (also called "reps") representing South Dakota in the "House."
  
South Dakota has 1 district.
1 House Member per district.
(Yes, each state has a different number of districts)  
435 = the total number of Members in the House.

220 Democrats
210 Republicans
5 Vacancies
  
Length of term: 2 years.
Term limits: no.
  

"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."

- Thomas Jefferson

South Dakota Government

Pierre is the state capital.
  
Kristi Noem
aRepublicanis Governor.
  
In The South Dakota Senate...
35 = the total number of State Senators.
32 Republicans
3 Democrats
Length of term: 2 years.
Term limits: 4 terms (8 years).
  
In The South Dakota House of Representatives...
70 = the total number of State House Members (also called "State Reps").
62 Republicans
8 Democrats
Length of term: 2 years.
Term limits: 4 terms (8 years).

What district do I live in?

Find your US Federal District with this handy map's zoom feature.

"A man who is good enough to shed his blood for his country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards."

- Theodore Roosevelt

"Because power corrupts, society's demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases."

- John Adams

Why are elections held on a TUESDAY in NOVEMBER?

Didn't vote in primary. Can I still vote in general election?

Will switching parties change how I can vote?