2026 Voting Guides

South Dakota voting guide

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Here’s what you need to vote in South Dakota.

Check Your Registration

Even if you voted last time, check that you’re still registered. Check your registration

Register by:
  • By mail or in person: Mon., Oct. 19

Key Dates

  • Last day for county auditor to RECEIVE your voter registration form
  • In-person absentee (early) voting ends at 5 p.m.
  • Election Day; polls open 7 a.m.–7 p.m. local time; absentee ballots must arrive before polls close

Your Voting Checklist

  • Vote early in person from Fri., Sept. 18 to Mon., Nov. 2.
  • Vote by mail. Any voter can vote by mail.
    Request a ballot by Mon., Nov. 2. Request a mail ballot
    Return it by Tues., Nov. 3.
  • Vote on Election Day, Tues., Nov. 3, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. local time. Find your polling place
  • Bring the right ID. You must show a photo ID to vote in person.
    • South Dakota driver's license or nondriver ID
    • U.S. passport or other U.S. government photo ID
    • U.S. military ID
    • Tribal photo ID
    • Student photo ID from a South Dakota high school or college
    No photo ID? You can sign a form and still vote a regular ballot. See the official ID rules
  • Review your sample ballot before you go.
  • Have a past conviction?
    • You can't vote while serving a felony sentence, including prison, parole, and probation.
    • When your sentence is done, you can register again.
  • Make a plan and bring three people. Make a plan

What’s on Your Ballot

These are the biggest races in South Dakota this year. Please note, we do not endorse any candidates.

Governor

  • Dan Ahlers Democratic · Campaign site
  • Former state legislator and small business owner; former executive director of the SD Democratic Party.
  • Larry Rhoden Republican, incumbent · Campaign site
  • Governor since January 2025; rancher; former lieutenant governor and state legislator.

Stance on key issues

Voting rights & elections

Dan Ahlers Democratic

Has criticized state leaders who 'work to undo the will of the people' on ballot measures and make it harder to get issues on the ballot. Source

Larry Rhoden Republican, incumbent

No public position found.

Policing, prisons & public safety

Dan Ahlers Democratic

No public position found.

Larry Rhoden Republican, incumbent

Launched targeted crime and drug enforcement and replaced the plan for a new state prison with one he says saves $175 million. Source

Immigration

Dan Ahlers Democratic

No public position found.

Larry Rhoden Republican, incumbent

Says he banned sanctuary cities and signed agreements for the Highway Patrol and Department of Corrections to work with ICE. Source

Abortion & health care

Dan Ahlers Democratic

Wants to keep rural hospitals and long-term care centers open and fix health care worker shortages. Source

Larry Rhoden Republican, incumbent

Says he 'stopped harmful abortion pills from coming into South Dakota.' Source

Economy, taxes & cost of living

Dan Ahlers Democratic

Says property-tax reform would be a 'Day One priority.' Source

Larry Rhoden Republican, incumbent

Says he delivered 'the largest property tax cut in South Dakota history.' Source

Workers & wages

Dan Ahlers Democratic

Says he will 'fight for wages that let hardworking South Dakotans get ahead' and partner with businesses, schools and unions on job training. Source

Larry Rhoden Republican, incumbent

Has funded technical college expansion, apprenticeships and the Build Dakota Scholarship. Source

Housing

Dan Ahlers Democratic

Supports local solutions and fewer barriers to build affordable housing in rural and growing communities. Source

Larry Rhoden Republican, incumbent

No public position found.

Schools

Dan Ahlers Democratic

Wants to fully fund public schools, recruit and keep teachers, and expand child care and early childhood education. Source

Larry Rhoden Republican, incumbent

Backs phonics-based reading, replaced Common Core math standards, and opted into the federal school choice program. Source

U.S. Senate

  • Brian Bengs Independent · Campaign site
  • Navy and Air Force veteran; former Northern State University political science professor.
  • Mike Rounds Republican, incumbent · Campaign site
  • U.S. senator since 2015; former two-term governor of South Dakota.

Stance on key issues

Voting rights & elections

Brian Bengs Independent

Supports federal redistricting reform to take map-drawing away from partisans, and term limits for lawmakers. Source

Mike Rounds Republican, incumbent

No public position found.

Immigration

Brian Bengs Independent

Supports 'a strong border security component and increased legal immigration.' Source

Mike Rounds Republican, incumbent

Supports funding for the border wall, surveillance technology and more border agents. Source

Abortion & health care

Brian Bengs Independent

Says he respects 'a woman's right to choose' and supports limits on abortion after viability, with exceptions for the mother's life or health. Wants a full overhaul of health care to lower costs. Source

Mike Rounds Republican, incumbent

Says he is 'pro-life.' As governor he signed the trigger law that bans abortion in SD except to save the mother's life. Says he will protect Medicare without cutting benefits. Source

Economy, taxes & cost of living

Brian Bengs Independent

Wants the ultra-rich to 'pay their fair share' and opposes tax cuts that mainly help the wealthy. Source

Mike Rounds Republican, incumbent

Voted for H.R. 1 (2025), the tax and spending law that extended the 2017 tax cuts and reduced future Medicaid and SNAP spending. Source

Workers & wages

Brian Bengs Independent

Supports 'fair wages, targeted subsidies, and tax credits' to make daily life more affordable. Source

Mike Rounds Republican, incumbent

No public position found.

Housing

Brian Bengs Independent

Says owning a home is 'often an unachievable dream' and the economy should deliver for regular people. Source

Mike Rounds Republican, incumbent

No public position found.

Schools

Brian Bengs Independent

Supports more federal funding for schools on tribal reservations. Source

Mike Rounds Republican, incumbent

Is working to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and supports local control of schools. Source

Civil rights, DEI & LGBTQ+ rights

Brian Bengs Independent

Has said 'I support you loving whomever you want.' Source

Mike Rounds Republican, incumbent

No public position found.

Climate & environmental justice

Brian Bengs Independent

No public position found.

Mike Rounds Republican, incumbent

Supports an 'all-of-the-above' energy approach and opposes 'excessive federal regulations' on energy producers. Source

Ballot measures

  • Constitutional Amendment I – Medicaid expansion tied to 90% federal funding. Voters added Medicaid expansion to the state constitution in 2022. This would let the state drop that coverage if the federal government pays less than 90% of its cost.
    Yes means the state would no longer have to provide expanded Medicaid if federal funding falls below 90%.
    No means expanded Medicaid stays required in the constitution no matter the federal share.
  • Constitutional Amendment J – Citizenship requirement for voting. Adds language to the state constitution saying people who are not U.S. citizens cannot vote in any South Dakota election or ballot question.
    Yes means the constitution would say only U.S. citizens can vote in state and local elections.
    No means the constitution's wording stays the same.
  • Constitutional Amendment K – Unclaimed property trust fund. Creates a trust fund in the constitution for unclaimed property money held by the state treasurer.
    Yes means unclaimed property money, after claims and set costs, goes into a protected trust fund.
    No means no constitutional trust fund is created.
  • Constitutional Amendment L – 60% vote to pass constitutional amendments. Raises the share of votes needed to approve future amendments to the state constitution from a simple majority to 60%.
    Yes means future constitutional amendments would need 60% of the vote to pass.
    No means constitutional amendments keep passing with a simple majority (more than 50%).

Protect the Vote

  • Apply to be a poll worker and support free and fair elections.
  • Watch the count. Take a training to learn how to observe the polls.
  • If anyone tries to stop you from voting or something at your polling place seems wrong:
    • Call 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)
    • Call 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682) – Spanish
    • Call 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683) – Asian languages
    • Call 844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287) – Arabic
    • If you’re in line when polls close, stay in line. You can still vote.
    • If your name isn’t on the list, ask for a provisional ballot.
    • Know your rights

Organizations to Support

  • Four Directions Native Vote. Native-led voting rights nonprofit based on the Rosebud reservation, working for equal voting access in Indian Country.
  • Lakota People's Law Project. Lakota-led legal and advocacy group that has run Native voter turnout drives with tribal nations.

Anti-Racism Daily will never tell you who to vote for and does not endorse candidates. Information here has been pulled from the internet and may be inaccurate. Please fact-check your sources. If you spot a mistake, please let us know so we can fix it.

Get the next one in your inbox.

You’ll be subscriber No. 63,199