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Can I vote by mail in South Dakota?
Yes. Anyone can request a mail ballot.
Any registered voter can request a mail (absentee) ballot, no reason needed. There's a deadline, so request early.
- Voter registrationMon, Oct 19Passed
(mail or in person; no online registration)
- NextAsk for your mail ballot. Your request must arrive byTue, Oct 272 days
- Mail it byTue, Oct 272 days
USPS says allow 7 days. Your ballot must be received by Tue, Nov 3. After this date, use a drop box or return it in person.
- Returning it:
Must reach your county election official on Election Day in time to be delivered to your precinct before polls close, so effectively by mid-afternoon.
Dropping it off? Drop-off is run by your county or town rather than the state, so locations vary. county auditor.
Who can return it for you: A person you designate may return it. You return the ballot by mail, in person, or by giving it to an authorized absentee ballot messenger to deliver in person. No other third-party return is listed; drop boxes aren't mentioned. source
- Mail request must be receivedMon, Nov 2, 5 p.m., in person8 days
Ask now: a request on the last day leaves no time to mail the ballot back.
Missed the request deadline?
- Voters confined by sickness or disability. Deadline: Tue, Nov 3, 3 p.m. (application received). Apply in writing naming an 'authorized messenger', who picks up the ballot from the county election official, brings it to you and returns it (to the county office, or straight to your precinct if time is short). source
- Election DayTue, Nov 39 days
If your ballot gets flagged
If your ballot was flagged
South Dakota has no statewide process to fix a flagged mail ballot. Call your county election office right away and ask whether you can still vote another way, such as in person.
Call your county election office. You can say:
Hi, I voted by mail and my ballot was flagged. What do I need to do to fix it, and by when? Can I do it today?
Trouble voting? Free, nonpartisan hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE · 888-VE-Y-VOTA · 888-API-VOTE · 844-YALLA-US
Where are you with your ballot?
Where are you with your ballot?
Will your ballot count in South Dakota?
Will your ballot count in South Dakota?
- Is this your first time voting by mail?
- Have you moved since you last voted?
- Has your signature changed much since you registered?
Why ballots get rejected in South Dakota, and how to avoid it
- Sign the envelope the way you signed your voter registration or driver's license. Your state compares them.
- Use the secrecy sleeve if one is included, then the return envelope. Don't tape anything.
- Keep the phone and email on your registration current. If there's a problem, that's how they reach you to fix it.
Voting in person insteadpolling place, early voting, ID
Polling place and sample ballot: Your state's voter portal shows where you vote in person, what's on your ballot, and your registration status, all from your address. Open the voter portal
Open now through Mon, Nov 2. Locations and hours
Bring a photo ID. If you don't have one there's a fallback, usually signing an affidavit or having your signature checked, and your ballot still counts that day.
Accepted: SD driver's license or nondriver ID, U.S. government photo ID (passport), U.S. Armed Forces ID, current SD high school/accredited college student photo ID, tribal photo ID Without one: Sign a personal identification affidavit and vote a regular ballot - no follow-up.
More about your statepermanent list, counting, alerts
South Dakota cannot start counting mail ballots until Election Day itself, so results take longer than you might expect. Results are certified Tue, Nov 17.
Watching the numbers? Your state publishes a running count of mail ballots requested and returned: South Dakota's absentee numbers
- Military or overseas. You're covered by federal law (UOCAVA), which usually gives you longer deadlines and electronic delivery. Use the Federal Post Card Application to register and request a ballot in one step. If your ballot doesn't arrive, the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot is your backup. FVAP.gov
- College student. You can register at your school address or your family's, not both. If you're registered back home and away at school, request a mail ballot from home early; campus mail is slow. Some states require a specific reason for students to vote absentee, so check your state's rule above. Student voter guide
- Disability or need help marking a ballot. Every state must offer an accessible way to vote. Most have an accessible mail-ballot option you can mark on a screen reader or your own device, and all allow a person of your choice (not your employer or union rep) to assist. Ask your county election office for the accessible absentee ballot. If illness, a hospital stay or a disability keeps you from the polls AFTER the request deadline, most states still have a way to get you a ballot: see "Missed the request deadline?" under your state's dates, and "Who can return it for you" for whether a family member or helper may carry it back. EAC: voters with disabilities
- Moved recently. Your registration is tied to your address. If you moved within your state, update it before the registration deadline; if you've moved across state lines, register in the new state. Moved after the deadline? Many states let you vote at your old precinct one last time or update in person; call your county. vote.gov
- Past felony conviction. Rules vary widely: some states restore rights automatically on release, others after probation or parole, a few require a separate process. Don't assume you can't vote. Check your state before the registration deadline. NCSL: restoration of voting rights
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Verified against the official page 2026-09-10. Rule checked 2026-09-09. Deadlines checked 2026-09-09. Request deadlines are "received by," not postmarked. The official site wins if anything differs. Spot something wrong? We check every report against the state's own page and fix errors as soon as they're reported. Email fix@ballotbymail.org or use the report form.