| May 8, 2001 | Earliest day for initiated 
		measure petitions to be circulated. (SDCL 
		2-1-6.2) | 
	
		| November 5, 2001 | Deadline for filing 
		petitions to place constitutional amendments on the ballot. (Constitution, 
		Art. XXIII, Sec. 1) | 
	
		| January 1, 2002 | Earliest day for June 
		primary or independent candidates to circulate nominating petitions. (SDCL 
		12-6-4.1,
		
		12-7-1.1) | 
	
		|  | Earliest day for an 
		independent candidate to file nominating petitions. (SDCL 
		12-7-1) | 
	
		| January 21 | First day a June primary 
		election candidate may file nominating petitions. (SDCL 
		12-6-4,
		
		12-9-4) | 
	
		| February 1 | Last day for statewide 
		candidates, state office holders, ballot question committees, political 
		party committees and political action committees to file year-end 
		reports of receipts and expenditures for the period of January 1, 2001 
		through December 31, 2001. (SDCL 
		12-25-13) | 
	
		| March 11-16 & 18-23 | Weeks in which county 
		auditor must publish the notice of deadline for filing nominating 
		petitions - ARSD 
		5:02:04:17. (SDCL 
		12-12-1) See NOTE 1. | 
	
		| March 26 | Last day for candidates to 
		file for withdrawal from the primary election -
		ARSD 5:02:07:05. 
		(SDCL 
		12-6-8.1) | 
	
		| April 2 | Last day to file primary 
		election nominating petitions. (SDCL 
		12-6-4,
		
		12-9-4) | 
	
		|  | Last day nominees for party 
		precinct committeeman and committeewoman may file statement of candidacy 
		with the county auditor. (SDCL 
		12-5-4) | 
	
		|  | Last day for a new political 
		party to file petitions declaring organization with the Secretary of 
		State. (SDCL 
		12-5-1) | 
	
		|  | Last day for sheriff 
		candidates who filed a primary nominating petition to file a 
		certification of qualification. (SDCL 
		23-3-43.1) | 
	
		| April 4 | Drawing for position on the 
		ballot for the primary election will be held in the office of the 
		Secretary of State at 9:00 a.m. (SDCL 
		12-16-8) | 
	
		| April 17 | Last day for candidate to 
		file "Statement of Financial Interest" if nominating petition was filed 
		on last day. This statement must be filed within fifteen days after 
		filing nominating petitions. (SDCL 
		12-25-28,
		
		12-25-30) | 
	
		| April 22 | Deadline for county central 
		committees to submit names to the county auditor to be used as election 
		board workers. (SDCL 
		12-15-1) See NOTE 3. | 
	
		| April 23 | Deadline for primary 
		election ballots to be printed and in the auditor's possession. Absentee 
		voting may begin as soon as ballots are available. (SDCL 
		12-16-1,
		
		12-16-17,
		
		12-19-3) | 
	
		| April 29-May 3 & May 6-10 | Weeks for notice of voter 
		registration deadline -
		ARSD 5:02:04:04. 
		(SDCL 
		12-4-5.2) See NOTES 1 & 2. | 
	
		| May 6 | Deadline for Secretary of 
		State to furnish envelopes to the county auditors for official election 
		returns. (SDCL 
		12-20-37) See NOTE 3. | 
	
		|  | Last day for auditor to 
		submit names of persons to be employed at an electronic voting system 
		counting center to the county chairmen of each party to assure 
		bipartisan representation. (SDCL 
		12-17B-11) See NOTE 3. | 
	
		| May 7 | Deadline for auditors to 
		fill requests for precinct lists by parties and candidates. (SDCL 
		12-4-24.1) | 
	
		|  | Deadline for filing of 
		completed petitions for placement of statewide initiated measures on the 
		general election ballot. (SDCL 
		2-1-2) | 
	
		| May 15 | Deadline for the county 
		auditor to appoint precinct superintendents and deputies for each 
		election precinct. (SDCL 
		12-15-1,
		
		12-15-2,
		
		12-15-3) | 
	
		| May 18-24 & 
		May 25-31 | Weeks in which county 
		auditor must publish the notice of election -
		ARSD 5:02:04:16. 
		(SDCL 
		12-12-1) See NOTES 1 & 2. | 
	
		| May 20 | Deadline for voter 
		registration for the primary election. (SDCL 
		12-4-5) | 
	
		| May 25 | First day for test of 
		automatic tabulating equipment in counties using electronic voting 
		systems. Notice of testing must be published at least 48 hours prior to 
		the test - ARSD 
		5:02:09:01.01. (SDCL 
		12-17B-5) See NOTE 2. | 
	
		| May 26-June 3 | Candidates and committees 
		must file supplemental campaign finance statements with the Secretary of 
		State if they receive an aggregate contribution of $500 or more within 
		the nine days prior to the election. The report must be filed within 48 
		hours of receipt of the contribution. (SDCL 
		12-25-13.1) | 
	
		| May 28 | Deadline for the auditors to 
		inform the Secretary of State of the number of precincts and the kind of 
		voting equipment being used. The Secretary of State also requests voter 
		registration figures at this time. (SDCL 
		12-14-12,
		
		12-1-7.1) See NOTE 3. | 
	
		|  | Deadline for statewide 
		candidate, political action, and state party committees to file 
		pre-primary campaign finance reports with the Secretary of State. Report 
		covers January 1 through May 25. Reports postmarked on or before this 
		date are properly filed. (SDCL 
		12-25-13) | 
	
		| May 31 | Deadline for publication of 
		facsimile ballot. (SDCL 
		12-16-16) | 
	
		| June 4 | PRIMARY ELECTION DAY (SDCL 
		12-2-1,
		
		12-2-3) Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time. | 
	
		|  | Ballots and election 
		supplies must be delivered to the superintendent of each election 
		precinct prior to the opening of the polls. (SDCL 
		12-16-18) | 
	
		|  | No applications for absentee 
		ballots may be honored by the county auditor after 3:00 p.m. on election 
		day. (SDCL 
		12-19-2.1) | 
	
		| June 7 | Last day for county canvass 
		of returns. (SDCL 
		12-20-36) | 
	
		|  | Certified copies of the 
		official county canvass must be filed with the Secretary of State 
		immediately following the official canvass. (SDCL 
		12-20-38.1) | 
	
		| June 10 | Last day for filing recount 
		petition by a county candidate assuming canvass was completed on June 7 
		- ARSD 
		5:02:19:05. (SDCL 
		12-21-10) NOTE: Above action must be initiated within three days 
		following completion of the official county canvass. | 
	
		| June 11 | Last day for convening the 
		state board of canvassers. (SDCL 
		12-20-47) | 
	
		| June 12 | Last day for Secretary of 
		State to certify runoff candidates to county auditors if no candidate 
		for nomination for United States Senator, United States Representative 
		or Governor received thirty-five percent of the votes cast in the party 
		primary election. (SDCL 
		12-6-51.3) | 
	
		| June 14 | Last day for filing recount 
		petition by legislative and statewide candidates assuming state canvass 
		was completed on June 11 - ARSD 5:02:19:05. County auditor shall notify 
		the Secretary of State of a legislative recount. (SDCL 
		12-21-11,
		
		12-21-11.1,
		
		12-21-12) NOTE: Above action must be initiated within three days 
		following completion of the official state canvass. | 
	
		| June 15-16 | Days for Secretary of State 
		to publish notice of secondary election and facsimile ballot in state 
		newspapers that publish on Saturday and Sunday. (SDCL 
		12-12-1) | 
	
		| June 18 | SECONDARY ELECTION DAY. (SDCL 
		12-6-51.1) Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time. | 
	
		|  | Ballots and election 
		supplies must be delivered to the superintendent of each election 
		precinct prior to the opening of the polls. (SDCL 
		12-16-18) | 
	
		|  | No applications for absentee 
		ballots may be honored by the county auditor after 3:00 p.m. on election 
		day. (SDCL 
		12-19-2.1) | 
	
		| June 18 | Last day for independent 
		candidates to file nominating petitions with the Secretary of State or 
		county auditor. (SDCL 
		12-7-1) | 
	
		| June 21 | Last day for county canvass 
		of returns for secondary election. (SDCL 
		12-20-36) | 
	
		|  | Certified copies of the 
		official county canvass must be filed with the Secretary of State 
		immediately following the official canvass. (SDCL 
		12-20-38.1) | 
	
		| June 25 | Last day for convening of 
		state board of canvassers for secondary election. (SDCL 
		12-20-47) | 
	
		| July 1 | Deadline for persons or 
		committees working for or against the passage of a ballot question to 
		file campaign finance reports of receipts and expenditures with the 
		Secretary of State. (SDCL 
		12-25-19.1) | 
	
		|  | Deadline for legislative and 
		county primary election candidates to file reports of receipts and 
		expenditures with Secretary of State or county auditor. (SDCL 
		12-25-13.3) | 
	
		|  | Last day to file 
		conservation district director nominating petitions. (SDCL 
		38-8-39) | 
	
		| July 23 | Deadline for Attorney 
		General to submit explanatory statements for ballot questions to the 
		Secretary of State. (SDCL 
		12-13-9) | 
	
		| August 6 | Last day for candidates to 
		withdraw nominations -
		ARSD 5:02:07:05. 
		(SDCL 
		12-6-55) | 
	
		|  | Last day for an incumbent 
		justice of the Supreme Court to request the secretary of state to place 
		the justice's name on the Supreme Court justice retention ballot -
		
		ARSD 5:02:06:03.02. | 
	
		| August 13 | Last day for party central 
		committees to fill vacancies created by candidates who withdrew their 
		nominations - 
		ARSD 5:02:07:06. (SDCL 
		12-8-6) | 
	
		|  | Deadline for Secretary of 
		State to certify copies of all ballot questions to the county auditors. 
		(SDCL 
		12-13-1) | 
	
		|  | Last day for independent 
		sheriff candidates to file a certification of qualification. (SDCL 
		23-3-43.1) | 
	
		| August 15 | Drawing for position on the 
		ballot for the general election will be held in the office of the 
		Secretary of State at 9:00 a.m. (SDCL 
		12-16-3.1,
		
		12-16-8) | 
	
		| August 27 | Last day for Secretary of 
		State to certify to the county auditors the names of all candidates for 
		state and district office to be placed on the general election ballot. (SDCL 
		12-8-8) | 
	
		| September 23 | Deadline for county central 
		committees to submit names to the county auditor to be used as election 
		board workers. (SDCL 
		12-15-1) See NOTE 3. | 
	
		| September 24 | Deadline for all general 
		election ballots to be printed and in the auditor's possession. Absentee 
		voting may begin whenever ballots are available. (SDCL 
		12-16-1,
		
		12-16-17,
		
		12-19-3) | 
	
		| September 30-October 4 & 
		October 7-11 | Weeks for notice of voter 
		registration procedures -
		ARSD 5:02:04:04. 
		(SDCL 
		12-4-5.2) See NOTES 1 & 2. | 
	
		| October 1 | Deadline for county auditor 
		to mail copies of all submitted questions to the official county 
		newspapers. (SDCL 
		12-13-2) | 
	
		|  | Deadline for county auditors 
		to fill requests for precinct lists by parties and candidates. (SDCL 
		12-4-24.1) | 
	
		| October 7 | Last day for Secretary of 
		State to furnish county auditors with envelopes for mailing official 
		returns of votes to the office of the Secretary of State. (SDCL 
		12-20-37) See NOTE 3. | 
	
		|  | Last day for auditor to 
		submit names of persons to be employed at an electronic voting system 
		counting center to the county chairmen of each party to assure 
		bipartisan representation. (SDCL 
		12-17B-11) See NOTE 3. | 
	
		| October 8-22 | Time in which all official 
		county newspapers must publish at least once the full text, statement, 
		title, explanation and the recitation of effect of each submitted ballot 
		question. (SDCL 
		12-13-3) See NOTE 2. | 
	
		| October 16 | Deadline for the county 
		auditor to appoint superintendents and precinct deputies for each 
		election precinct. (SDCL 
		12-15-1,
		
		12-15-2,
		
		12-15-3) | 
	
		| October 19-25 & October 
		26-November 1 | Weeks in which the county 
		auditor must publish the notice of the general election -
		ARSD 5:02:04:05. 
		(SDCL 
		12-12-1) See NOTES 1 & 2. | 
	
		| October 21 | Voter registration deadline 
		for the general election. (SDCL 
		12-4-5)   | 
	
		| October 26 | First day for test of 
		electronic voting system tabulating equipment. Notice of the time and 
		place of the test must be published in the official newspaper at least 
		48 hours prior to testing -
		ARSD 
		5:02:09:01.01. (SDCL 
		12-17B-5) See NOTE 2. | 
	
		| October 27-November 4 | Statewide candidates and 
		committees must file supplemental reports with the Secretary of State if 
		they receive an aggregate contribution of $500 or more within the nine 
		days immediately preceding the election. The report must be filed within 
		48 hours of receipt of the contribution. (SDCL 
		12-25-13.1) | 
	
		| October 28 | Deadline for auditors to 
		inform Secretary of State on the number of precincts and kind of voting 
		equipment being used. The Secretary of State also requests voter 
		registration information in this report. (SDCL 
		12-14-12,
		
		12-1-7.1) See NOTE 3. | 
	
		| October 29 | Deadline for statewide 
		candidates and committees to file pre-general campaign finance reports 
		of receipts and expenditures with the Secretary of State. Report covers 
		May 26 through October 26. Reports postmarked on or before this date are 
		timely submitted. (SDCL 
		12-25-13) | 
	
		| November 1 | Deadline for publication of 
		facsimile ballots. (SDCL 
		12-16-16) | 
	
		| November 5 | GENERAL ELECTION DAY (SDCL 
		12-2-2,
		
		12-2-3) Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time. | 
	
		|  | Ballots and election 
		supplies must be delivered to the superintendent of each election 
		precinct prior to the opening of the polls. (SDCL 
		12-16-18) | 
	
		|  | No applications for absentee 
		ballots may be honored by the county auditor after 3:00 p.m. on election 
		day. (SDCL 
		12-19-2.1) | 
	
		| November 8 | Last day for the county 
		canvass of election returns. (SDCL 
		12-20-36) | 
	
		|  | County auditors must 
		immediately send a certified copy of the official county canvass to the 
		Secretary of State as the official returns of the election. (SDCL 
		12-20-38.1) | 
	
		| November 12 | Last day for convening the 
		state board of canvassers. (SDCL 
		12-20-47) | 
	
		|  | Last day for filing a 
		recount petition by county candidates, assuming the canvass was 
		completed on November 8 -
		ARSD 5:02:19:05. 
		(SDCL 
		12-21-10) NOTE: Above action must be initiated within three days 
		following completion of the official county canvass. | 
	
		| November 15 | Deadline for petition for 
		recount in precinct by voters of the precinct - ARSD 5:02:19:06. (SDCL 
		12-21-8) | 
	
		|  | Last day for filing recount 
		petition by legislative or statewide candidates, assuming state canvass 
		was completed on November 12 -
		ARSD 5:02:19:05. 
		County auditor shall notify the Secretary of State of a legislative 
		recount. (SDCL 
		12-21-11,
		
		12-21-11.1,
		
		12-21-12) | 
	
		| November 18 | Last day for a county 
		candidate to initiate action to contest, assuming canvass was completed 
		on November 8 and no recount is in progress. (SDCL 
		12-22-5) NOTE: Above actions must be initiated within ten days 
		following completion of the official county canvass. | 
	
		| November 22 | Last day for filing petition 
		for recount on a ballot question -
		ARSD 5:02:19:07. 
		(SDCL 
		12-21-14) NOTE: Above actions must be initiated within ten days 
		following completion of the official state canvass. | 
	
		|  | Last day for initiating a 
		contest by a legislative or statewide candidate, or by citizens on 
		behalf of a ballot question, assuming the state canvass was completed on 
		November 12 and no recount is in progress. (SDCL 
		12-22-5) NOTE: Above actions must be initiated within ten days 
		following completion of the official state canvass. | 
	
		| December 31 | Deadline for legislative and 
		county general election candidates to file final reports of receipts and 
		expenditures with the Secretary of State or county auditor. (SDCL 
		12-25-13.3) | 
	
		| February 3, 2003 | Last day for statewide 
		candidates and committees to file year-end reports of campaign finance 
		receipts and expenditures with the Secretary of State. Report covers 
		October 27 through December 31. Reports postmarked on or before this 
		date are timely submitted. (SDCL 
		12-25-13) |