2026 Candidate Calendar

• January 1, 2026
• All candidates that file with the Secretary of State's office may begin circulating petitions.
• Statement of Organization must be filed within 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 30, 2026
• 2025 Year-End Campaign Finance Report is due by 5:00 pm CT. 
• Who files: Click here
  
  
• Petition Filing Deadlines:
• March 31, 2026 for Primary Election candidates
• April 28, 2026 for Independent candidates
• Candidate Financial Interest Statements (FIS) must be filed within 15 days after filing nominating petitions or a convention nomination certification.

 

• April 17, 2026
  • Absentee Voting begins for Primary Election
  
  
• May 18, 2026
• Pre-Primary Campaign Finance Report is due by 5:00 pm CT.
• **Law change July 1, 2025** (All candidates running for a legislative or county office with a recognized political party shall file a pre-primary report)
• Who files: Click here
  
  
• June 2, 2026
• Primary Election
  
  
• August 4, 2026
  • Deadline to withdraw from the General Election is 5:00 pm local time (SDCL 12-6-55).  The request shall be filed where you filed your nominating petitions. There is no registered mail option for this request. The auditor must have the request in hand by 5:00 pm local time for it to be considered timely filed.

• September 18, 2026
  • Absentee Voting begins for General Election

• October 19, 2026
• Pre-General Campaign Finance Report is due by 5:00 pm CT.
• Who files: Click here
  
  
• November 3, 2026
• General Election
  
  
• January 2027: Elected Official Oath of Office & Elected Official Financial Interest Statement (FIS) 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 30, 2027
• 2026 Year End Campaign Finance Report is due by 5:00 pm CT.

* 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.

12-6-65 Notwithstanding any other provisions, if a candidate has been defeated in a primary election for office in the Legislature, the candidate may not run for that office under the affiliation of a different political party in the same election year as the primary election.

Disclaimer: This candidate election calendar is only a general guide and may not include all election dates and deadlines. Dates may also change due to legislative changes.