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Municipal and School Information

Election Calendars

2026 City & School Election Calendars

Election Resources

Absentee Voting Process for Cities and Schools- For Uncombined Elections.

Precinct Manual

School District Opt Out Election Timeline

Tax Limitation and Opt Out Information for All Taxing Districts EXCEPT for School Districts

Opt Out Information for Schools

Forms of Notices

How to Circulate Municipal and County Initiatives and Referendums

Municipal Recall Election Guidelines

Municipal & School Recount Manual - For Uncombined Elections.

ADA Checklist for Polling Places

Kinship Chart

Voters in school districts are limited to specific issues they may use the referendum process for. To refer a school board decision to the vote of the people, these are the issues that may be referred:

School start date (SDCL 13-26-9 through 17)
School consolidation/reorganization (SDCL 13-6-10)
Bond - 60% to pass (SDCL 6-8B-2 and 13-19-9)
Discontinue attendance center (SDCL 13-23-2 and 3)
Some Capital Outlay Certificates (SDCL 13-16-6.4)
Implementation of a school sentinel program (SDCL 13-64-7)

Nominating Petitions

WARNING: State law requires that each petition sheet be self-contained. This means that the petition heading, instructions to signers, signature lines and circulator's verification must all be printed on each sheet prior to circulation. The sheet must be printed on front and back. You CANNOT tape, staple or glue the front and back sides together. You CANNOT include sheets with signature lines only. If you have any questions about how to correctly prepare a petition sheet, please call the elections department at 773-3537.

Learn how to circulate a Municipal Nominating Petition
*Signature requirements can be found at SDCL 9-13-9

First and Second Class cities

At large candidates need a minimum of 5% of the registered voters of the municipality based upon the number of registered voters recorded by the county auditor on the second Tuesday of January of the year of the election. No more than 50 signatures required.
Alderman (Wards) candidates need a minimum of 5% of the registered voters of the ward based upon the number of registered voters recorded by the county auditor on the second Tuesday of January of the year of the election. No more than 50 signatures required.
Voters may sign as many petitions as there are positions.

Third class cities

At large candidates need not less than three signatures of registered voters within the municipality.
Alderman (Wards) candidates need not less than three signatures of registered voters of the ward.
Voters may sign as many petitions as they choose.

Municipal Nominating petition in Legal Size
Municipal Nominating petition in Letter Size

Learn how to circulate a School Board Nominating Petition
*A minimum of 20 signatures is required (SDCL 13-7-6)

School Board Nominating petition in Legal Size
School Board Nominating petition in Letter Size

Candidate Nominating Petition Validation Checklist

Cities and Schools - please note that you are required to check voter registration on nominating petitions. ARSD: 05:02:08:00
Cities ands Schools - please email [email protected] to gain access to the city and school look-up site. This site is only for school business managers and city finance officers.