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2020 Election History

2020 Election Information

2020 Election Information

Date of South Dakota's 2020 Primary Election - June 2, 2020
Absentee voting begins - April 17, 2020
Voter Registration Deadline - May 18, 2020

Absentee Ballots Requested: 112,211
Absentee Ballots Received: 88,949
Ballots Rejected: 1,220

Registered Voters for the June Primary who had a ballot available to them in their county: 546,899
Ballots cast for the June Primary: 154,328
Voter Turnout: 28.22%

Date of South Dakota's 2020 General Election - November 3, 2020

Absentee voting begins - September 18, 2020
Voter Registration Deadline - October 19, 2020

Absentee Ballots Requested: 228,552
Absentee Ballots Received: 219,074
Ballots Rejected: 817

Registered Voters for the General Election: 578,655
Ballots cast for the General Election: 427,529
Voter Turnout: 73.88%

2020 General Election Unofficial Results

2020 General Election Absentee Ballot Statistics

2020 General Election Ballot Question Information Pamphlet

Listen to the 2020 General Election Ballot Question Pamphlet

American Sign Language
Initiated Measure 26
Constitutional Amendment A
Constitutional Amendment B
Voter Registration and Absentee Ballot

2020 Statewide Ballot Questions

2020 Election Calendar

2020 Candidate List

2020 General Election State Canvass

2020 General Election Official State Canvass Results

2020 General Election Recount - House District 12

Lincoln County
Minnehaha County
2020 General Election Official Results State Canvass - Recount

2020 General Election County Canvass

2020 General Election Official County Canvass Results (with precinct level results)

2020 Primary Election Unofficial Results

2020 Primary Election Official Results State Canvass

Official Primary Election Results with County Certifications (precinct level results)

2020 Primary Election Official Results State Canvass - Recount

2020 Primary Candidate List

2020 Primary Election Precincts and Polling Places

2020 General Election Precincts and Polling Places

2020 General Election Ballot Question Informational Pamphlet

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) 2020 Election Information

Press Releases

Media Advisory - Second Election Night Reporting Test Date

Press Release - 2020 General Election Voter Registration Deadline

Media Advisory - Election Night Reporting Testing Dates

Secretary of State Press Release - Statement on Election Security Video Regarding Upcoming South Dakota General Election

Secretary of State Press Release - National Voter Registration Day

Secretary of State Press Release - Election Day Trusted Information

South Dakota General Election Absentee Voting Press Release - Issued September 16, 2020

Absentee Ballot Request Application Press Release - Issued April 10, 2020

Important Information

The Three P's of Voting (Be a Prepared, Participating and Patient Voter)

PSA from FBI and CISA: False Claims of Hacked Voter Information Likely Intended to Cast Doubt on Legitimacy of U.S. Elections

PSA from FBI and CISA: Foreign Actors and Cybercriminals Likely to Spread Disinformation Regarding 2020 Election Results

2020 Information on South Dakota Elections Handbook

County contact information for submission of your photo identification for absentee voting. - last updated 9/16/2020

The following nominations are made in the party primary elections held on June 2, 2020:

  • U.S. Senator - 6 year term
  • U.S. Representative - 2 year term
  • 105 Legislators (35 Senate, 70 House) - 2 year term
  • County Commissioners - 4 year term
  • States Attorney - 4 year term
  • County Coroner - 4 year term
  • County Treasurer/County Finance Officer - 4 year term
  • Delegates and Alternates to National Party Conventions (only if designated to be elected at a Primary Election in the party's bylaws; SDCL 12-5-3.11)
  • Delegates to State Party Conventions (only if designated to be elected at a Primary Election in the party's bylaws)
  • Precinct Committeeman and Committeewoman (only if designated to be elected at a Primary Election in the party's bylaws)

In those areas of the state which have the following types of districts, nominations are made in a nonpartisan primary election:

Supreme Court - Voted on the general election ballot:

  • Retention Election, South Dakota Supreme Court Justice - 8 year term

In those areas of the state which have the following types of districts, nominations are made in the general election:

  • Conservation District Supervisor - 4 year term

The following will be nominated at the 2020 state conventions of each political party:

  • Public Utilities Commissioner - 6 year term
  • 3 Presidential Electors

12-6-3. Candidacy for more than one office in same election prohibited--Exceptions. No person's name may appear on the primary election ballot as a candidate for nomination to more than one public office in the same election, except that a person may be the candidate for any public office and the office of President of the United States, vice president of the United States, director of a water development district, or director of a consumer power district. A candidate for any such office is not prohibited from seeking election to one or more party offices as may be provided in chapter 12-5. If a candidate secures a nomination at a state party convention, the candidate shall withdraw as a candidate from one of the offices and submit the withdrawal to the secretary of state on or before the date on which the secretary of state receives the state party certification.

12-16-10.1. Candidacy for more than one office prohibited--Exception. No person's name may appear on the general election ballot as a candidate for election to more than one public office except for the office of President of the United States or vice president of the United States.

2020 Candidate Calendar

  • January 1, 2020
    • All candidates that file with the Secretary of State's office may begin circulating petitions.
    • Statement of Organization is due 15 days after becoming a candidate. The candidate committees that have not already filed a statement of organization, must file not later than 15 days after the date upon which the committee made contributions, received contributions or paid expenses in excess of $500 unless such activity falls within 30 days of any statewide election, in which case the statement of organization shall be filed within 48 hours.

  • January 31, 2020
    • 2019 Year-End Campaign Finance Report is due by 5:00 pm CT. 
    • Who files: Click here

  • Petition filing deadlines:
    • March 31, 2020 for Primary Election candidates
    • April 28, 2020 for Independent candidates (except for independent presidential candidates)
    • August 4, 2020 for Independent Presidential Candidates
    • Candidate Financial Interest Statements (FIS) must be filed within 15 days after filing nominating petitions or a convention nomination certification.

  • May 18, 2020
    • Pre-Primary Campaign Finance Report is due by 5:00 pm CT.
    • **Law change July 1, 2019** (All candidates running for a legislative or county office with a recognized political party shall file a pre-primary report if there is any primary race for that particular office in the legislative district or county)
    • Who files: Click here

  • June 2, 2020
    • Primary Election

  • October 19, 2020
  • November 3, 2020
    • General Election

  • January 2021: Elected Official Oath of Office & Elected Official Financial Interest Statement must be filed in the office where the candidate nominating petition or convention nomination certification was filed. These must be filed within 15 days after taking the oath of office.

  • January 31, 2021

* All petitions and campaign finance reports that are filed with the Secretary of State are due by 5:00 pm CT on the deadline day.

Disclaimer: This candidate election calendar is only a general guide and may not be all-inclusive of all election dates and deadlines in the state.


Number of Signers Required for Candidate Petitions in 2020

Click here to view signature requirements for Legislative and County Candidates.

Signature Requirements for Statewide Offices on Petitions Filed for the 2020 Election

U.S. SENATOR, U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
Republican: 1,730 signatures (1% of the vote for the 2018 Republican gubernatorial candidate - 172,912)
Democrat: 1,615 signatures (1% of the vote for the 2018 democratic gubernatorial candidate - 161,454)
Libertarian: 50 signatures
Independent: 3,393 signatures (1% of the total vote for governor in 2018 - 339,214)
New Political Party: 250

*The Independent signature requirement would also apply to independent candidates for constitutional offices or public utilities commissioner.

*Independent candidates for president and their presidential electors 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 with the candidates nominating petitions.

2020 Presidential Party Certifications

2020 Democratic Party Certification for President - March 2, 2020

2020 Democratic Party Certification for President - March 23, 2020

Letters of intent from Democratic Candidates

2020 Republican Party Certification for President

Letters of intent from Republican Candidates

2020 Political Party State Conventions and Certification of Nominated Candidates

National Party Certification of Nominations

State Party Certification of Candidates (which include electors)

12-5-17. Biennial state conventions - Time and place--Notice to secretary of state. Each political party shall hold a state convention in each even-numbered year for the purposes stated in 12-5-21. The state central committee of each political party shall determine the time and place of the convention. The chair of the committee shall notify the secretary of state at least fifteen business days prior to the date chosen.

12-5-21. Nomination of state candidates not voted on at primary - Presidential electors and national committee members. The state convention shall nominate candidates for lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state auditor, state treasurer, commissioner of school and public lands, and public utilities commissioner and in the years when a President of the United States is to be elected, presidential electors and national committeeman and national committeewoman of the party.

*Additional political party convention information will be posted once we receive notification from the respective parties.

South Dakota Democratic Party - Saturday, June 20th 2020 at 9:00 AM
Convention Letter
Due to the on-going COVID-19 Crisis, all convention business will take place virtually via Zoom, teleconference or some other "virtual" system.
4320 S. Louise Ave
Ste. 201
Sioux Falls, SD 57106

South Dakota Libertarian Party - Saturday, May 9th 2020 at 4 PM CT
Convention Letter
351 S Pierre St
Pierre, SD 57501

South Dakota Republican Party - Friday-Saturday, June 19-20, 2020
Convention Letter
Supplemental Letter
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, attendance at the physical location of the convention will be limited and convention business will be handled through electronic means.
212 S Main Avenue
Suite 205
Sioux Falls, SD 57104