Early Voting Begins in South Dakota

Registered voters in South Dakota have begun casting their ballots in advance of the Nov. 8 general election.

Early and absentee voting in South Dakota began on Sept. 23 and will run until Nov. 7. Voters may cast their ballots either in person at their county auditor office or by mail. Voters casting their ballots in person must bring a valid ID with them. Driver’s licenses, U.S. Armed Forces IDs, current student photo IDs, and tribal government IDs are among the accepted forms of identification.

Those voting by mail may request an absentee ballot by submitting an Absentee Ballot Application and copy of ID to their county auditor office by 5 p.m. on Nov. 7. Absentee Ballot Applications can be acquired from the voter’s county auditor or downloaded from the South Dakota Secretary of State website and printed. The county auditor will process the application and supply the voter with an absentee ballot. Voters must fill out and return the ballot to their county auditor by 7 p.m. on Nov. 8.

According to USA.gov, voters in South Dakota must be 18 years old on or before Nov. 8 to vote in the general election. They must also be a resident of South Dakota. Unregistered voters must register with their county auditor by Oct. 24 to vote in the general election. Convicted felons who are currently serving any part of a sentence are not eligible to vote.

South Dakota polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 8 for the general election.