2008 South Dakota General Election Data
2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CALENDAR
January 1, 2008
Earliest day for independent candidates to circulate nominating
petitions. (SDCL 12-7-1.1)
January 1, 2008 (effective 7-1-07)
Earliest day for independent candidates to file nominating
petitions. (SDCL 12-7-7)
March 25, 2008 (effective 7-1-07)
Deadline for a new political party to file petitions declaring
organization with the Secretary of State to participate in
presidential primary election. (SDCL 12-5-1)
Deadline for political parties to certify slates of national
convention delegates to the Secretary of State for inclusion on
presidential primary ballot. (SDCL 12-5-3.8)
Deadline for presidential candidates to have filed on their
behalf a statement of intent to be a candidate. (SDCL 12-5-3.14)
June 3, 2008
Presidential Primary Election Day. (SDCL 12-2-1)
August 5, 2008
Last day for independent presidential candidates to file
nominating petitions with the Secretary of State. (SDCL 12-7-7)
November 4, 2008
General Election Day
PRIMARY ELECTION CANDIDATES
South Dakota has three recognized political parties which may
participate in the primary election--the Constitution Party, Democratic Party and
Republican Party. These parties have adopted procedures according to
law (SDCL 12-5-3.6 & 3.7) for selection of their delegates to the
national political party conventions. This information is available
from the party central committees.
Party Contact Information
SDCL 12-5-3.8 provides "If a political party chooses to have a
primary for selection of its delegates and alternates to the
national convention, it shall certify the slates to the secretary of
state by the last Tuesday in March preceding the primary by five
o'clock p.m. The slates certified shall be placed on the ballot by
the secretary of state and the position of the slates on the primary
ballot shall be chosen by lot by the secretary of state. The
certification shall be deemed to be filed if mailed by registered
mail by five o'clock p.m. on the last Tuesday in March."
SDCL 12-5-3.14 provides "Any candidate, committee or group
supporting a candidate in any presidential primary, shall, by the
last Tuesday in March prior to the presidential primary election,
notify the secretary of state of an intention to have the name of
the candidate placed on the presidential primary election ballot or
submit a slate of candidates or both."
South Dakota has a closed presidential and state primary election
on June 3, 2008.
NEW POLITICAL PARTIES
New
Political Parties
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES
Independent candidates for president may be on the general
election ballot by petition. Any person interested in becoming a
candidate must file a certification with the Secretary of State
indicating the name of the candidate's vice-presidential running
mate prior to circulating petitions to put the names of the
presidential electors on the general election ballot (SDCL 12-7-7).
The petitions must contain signatures of 3356 registered South
Dakota voters. Petitions may be circulated beginning on January 1,
2008, and filed between January 20, 2008 and August 5, 2008, with
the Secretary of State.
Petition and
certification forms are prescribed by the State Board of
Elections and are available from the Secretary of State's Office,
Attn: Elections, 500 E. Capitol, Pierre, SD 57501-5070 or are
available on our website:
www.sdsos.gov
GENERAL INFORMATION
There are no separate campaign finance reporting requirements at
the state level for federal candidates.
Write-in votes are not allowed.
South Dakota has three electoral votes.
Updated November 2006.
