South Dakota

Nov 3, 2026 general election · U.S. Senate, Governor, U.S. House and 6 other statewide races

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How to vote in South Dakota

General election: Tuesday, Nov 3, 2026. Dates below are for that election, from official state election sources; rules can change, so confirm with the linked source.

Registration deadline
Registration due by 5:00 p.m. Oct 19. Official source (accessed Oct 16, 2026)
Early voting
In-person absentee voting began Sept 18 at county auditors' offices. Official source (accessed Oct 16, 2026)
Absentee / mail voting
Submit a signed application to your county auditor, notarized or with a copy of acceptable photo ID. Official source (accessed Oct 16, 2026)
Voter ID
Acceptable photo IDs include an SD driver's license/non-driver ID, U.S. passport or other U.S. government photo ID, tribal photo ID, or current SD school photo ID. Official source (accessed Oct 16, 2026)
Find your polling place / sample ballot
Official voter lookup (check registration; many states also show your polling place and sample ballot here) · Official state election website (links from the state lists on vote.gov; accessed Oct 16, 2026)
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Enter your street address or pick your county (66 counties) and districts to filter out races not on your ballot, choose your candidates, and print a one-page sheet for the booth.
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On your ballot

U.S. Senate (Mike Rounds running again)

Mike Rounds (R) vs. Brian Bengs (I). See where each candidate stands, in their own words with sources, plus voting records where they exist.

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U.S. House, District 1 (open seat)

Marty Jackley (R) vs. Nicole "Nikki" Gronli (D). See where each candidate stands, in their own words with sources, plus voting records where they exist.

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Governor (Larry Rhoden running again)

Larry Rhoden (R) vs. Dan Ahlers (D). See where each candidate stands, in their own words with sources, plus voting records where they exist.

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Attorney General (open seat)

Lance Russell (R). See where each candidate stands, in their own words with sources, plus voting records where they exist.

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Secretary of State (open seat)

Heather Baxter (R) vs. Terrence Davis (D) + 1 other candidate. See where each candidate stands, in their own words with sources, plus voting records where they exist.

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State Treasurer (open seat)

Melissa Hull (R) vs. Margaret Kuipers (D). See where each candidate stands, in their own words with sources, plus voting records where they exist.

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State Auditor (open seat)

Catherine Barranco (R) vs. Tom Cool (D). See where each candidate stands, in their own words with sources, plus voting records where they exist.

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Commissioner of School and Public Lands (Brock Greenfield running again)

Brock Greenfield (R) vs. Raeann Mettler (D). See where each candidate stands, in their own words with sources, plus voting records where they exist.

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Public Utilities Commissioner (Gary Hanson running again)

Don Haggar (R) vs. Frank Kloucek (D). See where each candidate stands, in their own words with sources, plus voting records where they exist.

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State legislature races

All 72 South Dakota legislative races on the Nov 3 ballot, from the official candidate list.

See the races

All 66 South Dakota counties

Local and district races for every county, with sources.

Pick your county

Candidate profiles

Every candidate we list for South Dakota's statewide races, with background, positions and votes.

U.S. Senate

Governor

U.S. House, District 1

Attorney General

Secretary of State

State Treasurer

State Auditor

Commissioner of School and Public Lands

Public Utilities Commissioner

Local and district races: every South Dakota county.

Know something we’re missing? Tell us: [email protected]. Please include a link to the source (official site, questionnaire, debate or news report). We add positions only with a source and treat every candidate the same way.

Our neutrality promise

Statewide ballot measures (on every South Dakota ballot)

Titles, Attorney General explanations, and Yes/No text are quoted verbatim from the South Dakota Secretary of State’s official 2026 Ballot Question Pamphlet (compiled under SDCL § 12-13-23).

Constitutional Amendment I: Repeal Expanded Medicaid Coverage if Federal Funding Drops Below 90%

Official Attorney General Explanation (SDCL § 12-13-9): Medicaid is a program, funded by the State and the federal government, to provide medical coverage fo…

Official Attorney General Explanation (SDCL § 12-13-9): Medicaid is a program, funded by the State and the federal government, to provide medical coverage for low-income children, pregnant women, disabled individuals, and the elderly. In the 2022 General Election the voters approved Constitutional Amendment D, which expanded Medicaid eligibility in South Dakota. Amendment D requires the State to also provide Medicaid benefits to anyone over the age of 18 and under 65 whose income is at or below 133% of the federal property level, plus 5% of the federal poverty level for the applicable family size. Currently, federal law requires the federal government to fund 90% of South Dakota’s Medicaid expansion. This proposed Constitutional Amendment ends the expanded Medicaid coverage if the federal funding for expansion drops below 90%. If federal funding drops below that 90% threshold, Medicaid coverage will once again only apply to low-income children, pregnant women, disabled individuals, and the elderly.

A Yes vote means: Vote “Yes” to adopt the amendment.

A No vote means: Vote “No” to leave the Constitution as it is.

Supporters say: Supporters, including State Sen. Casey Crabtree (R-8), argue: “One of the key points by proponents of Medicaid expansion was that federal government pay 90% and South Dakota taxpayers pay the remaining 10%.”

Opponents say: Opponents, including State Sen. Liz Larson (D-10), argue: “People shouldn’t die because they can’t afford to live. Medicaid expansion has been a lifeline for 28,000 South Dakotans, and it’s saved lives.”

Arguments: Ballotpedia (secondary source). Listed in equal length; Vote Book does not endorse either side.

Official ballot wording
An Amendment to the South Dakota Constitution that Repeals Expanded Medicaid Coverage if Federal Funding for the Program Drops below 90%.

Source: Official ballot text (state election office)

Constitutional Amendment J: Clarifying United States Citizenship Requirement to Vote

Official Attorney General Explanation (SDCL § 12-13-9): Article VII, § 2 of the South Dakota Constitution defines who is qualified to vote in state elections.

Official Attorney General Explanation (SDCL § 12-13-9): Article VII, § 2 of the South Dakota Constitution defines who is qualified to vote in state elections. Among these qualifications are age, residency, and United States citizenship requirements. Article VII, § 2 also establishes that individuals may be disqualified from voting because of mental incompetence or a felony conviction. This constitutional amendment adds people who are not United States citizens to the list of individuals disqualified from voting, clarifying the existing requirement that only citizens may vote in state elections.

A Yes vote means: Vote “Yes” to adopt the amendment.

A No vote means: Vote “No” to leave the Constitution as it is.

Supporters say: Supporters argue: You can share campaign information or arguments, along with source links for this information, at [email protected].

Opponents say: Opponents argue: You can share campaign information or arguments, along with source links for this information, at [email protected].

Arguments: Ballotpedia (secondary source). Listed in equal length; Vote Book does not endorse either side.

Official ballot wording
An Amendment to the South Dakota Constitution Clarifying that an Individual Must Be a Citizen of the United States to be Eligible to Vote.

Source: Official ballot text (state election office)

Constitutional Amendment K: Establishing the Trust for Unclaimed Property Fund

Official Attorney General Explanation (SDCL § 12-13-9): Under South Dakota statute, intangible property is presumed to be abandoned if it remains unclaimed b…

Official Attorney General Explanation (SDCL § 12-13-9): Under South Dakota statute, intangible property is presumed to be abandoned if it remains unclaimed by the owner for more than three years after it became payable or distributable. Examples of intangible property are traveler’s checks, money orders, bank deposits, refunds, stocks, funds owed under a life insurance policy, and property held in a safe deposit box. Abandoned intangible property is transferred to the State Treasurer to hold while waiting for the owner to claim it. The State Treasurer must provide public notice of the abandoned property. This proposed constitutional amendment establishes a trust fund where unclaimed abandoned property will be deposited. Portions of the interest and income from this fund will be distributed into the general fund for the benefit of the state. This proposed amendment requires the Legislature to determine the amount to be distributed that promotes the growth of the trust fund and the distributed amount.

A Yes vote means: Vote “Yes” to adopt the amendment.

A No vote means: Vote “No” to leave the Constitution as it is.

Supporters say: Supporters, including Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen (R), argue: “Currently, we rely on unclaimed property as an ongoing revenue source this year, $60 or $65 million,” Venhuizen said.”

Opponents say: Opponents argue: You can share campaign information or arguments, along with source links for this information, at [email protected].

Arguments: Ballotpedia (secondary source). Listed in equal length; Vote Book does not endorse either side.

Official ballot wording
An Amendment to the South Dakota Constitution Establishing the Trust for Unclaimed Property Fund.

Source: Official ballot text (state election office)

Constitutional Amendment L: 60% Vote Requirement for Constitutional Amendments

Official Attorney General Explanation (SDCL § 12-13-9): The State Constitution provides that any proposed constitutional amendment or revision must be submit…

Official Attorney General Explanation (SDCL § 12-13-9): The State Constitution provides that any proposed constitutional amendment or revision must be submitted to the voters for approval. Currently, a proposed constitutional amendment or revision becomes part of the Constitution if approved by a majority of the votes cast. This proposed Constitutional Amendment increases the number of votes required for a proposed constitutional amendment or revision to become part of the Constitution. If passed, further constitutional amendments must receive an affirmative vote of sixty percent of the votes cast to be implemented.

A Yes vote means: Vote “Yes” to adopt the amendment.

A No vote means: Vote “No” to leave the Constitution as it is.

Supporters say: Supporters, including State Rep. John Hughes (R), argue: “When we put new rights in our Constitution, we have to be really careful what we’re doing.”

Opponents say: Opponents, including Chase Jensen, lobbyist for Dakota Rural Action Dakota Rural Action, argue: “With the unprecedented concentration of wealth in our society, in our politics today, we believe raising the threshold of votes wouldn't deter out of state money. It would only open the tap even further.”

Arguments: Ballotpedia (secondary source). Listed in equal length; Vote Book does not endorse either side.

Official ballot wording
An Amendment to the South Dakota Constitution Requiring that a Proposed Constitutional Amendment or Revision Receive an Affirmative Vote of Sixty Percent of the Votes Cast.

Source: Official ballot text (state election office)

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