South Dakota
1 Check ID Rules
Voting in Person
South Dakota requires photo ID to vote in person. Vote and sign a provisional ballot if you don’t have an accepted ID.
ACCEPTABLE PHOTO ID
You can use one of the following photo IDs:
Ok if expired.
- South Dakota driver’s license
- South Dakota state ID card (non-driver ID)
- ID issued by the federal government (for example: passport, military ID)
- Tribal ID
- Current student ID card from a high school or accredited post-high school institution in South Dakota
If you are not able to present an acceptable ID, you may still vote by signing a Personal Identification Affidavit. See the FAQ for more details.
Voting by Mail
You must either have your absentee ballot application notarized or include a copy of acceptable ID when you request to vote by mail. More info is in the FAQ below!
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I don’t have the right ID to vote in South Dakota?
Voters in South Dakota must show photo ID to confirm their identity at their polling place.
BUT: If you are not able to present acceptable ID, you may still vote a regular ballot by signing a Personal Identification Affidavit.
A Personal Identification Affidavit is a form on which you write your name, address, and signature. Your signature on the Affidavit must match the signature on file with the state.
Can I use a digital or mobile ID to vote in South Dakota?
Do I need a “REAL ID” to vote in South Dakota?
You do not need a “REAL ID” to vote in South Dakota.
Your driver’s license or state ID card will show a gold star if it meets REAL ID requirements under federal law. You may also hear it called a “gold star” ID.
South Dakota only issues real ID-compliant driver’s licenses and state IDs.
If you need to renew your state ID or driver’s license (or apply for a new one) you must go through the REAL ID process.
- More info is available from the South Dakota Department of Public Safety
- South Dakota’s required document list
- South Dakota’s Driver Licensing FAQ
Get in touch with VoteRiders if you have questions or need free help securing your REAL ID.
Who is eligible to vote by mail in South Dakota?
Do you need to include ID with your absentee ballot application?
State law requires completed absentee ballot applications to be notarized or include a photocopy of acceptable photo identification.
Any ID that is valid for voting in person will be accepted. See the list in the “Voting in Person” section.
Do you need to include ID with your absentee ballot?
2 Register
South Dakota Voter Registration Requirements
You must register before you can vote in South Dakota.
You are eligible to vote in South Dakota if you meet all of the following requirements:
- You are a citizen of the United States.
- You are a resident of South Dakota.
- You are at least 18 years of age on Election Day.
You cannot register to vote in South Dakota if:
- You are currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction.
- You have been declared incapacitated by a court of law.
Proof of Citizenship
New law effective March 2026! South Dakota requires proof of US citizenship to vote in state and local elections (when you vote for your governor, mayor, city council members, school board, etc.)
New voters who do not provide proof of citizenship will be registered as “federal only” voters. Being a “federal only” voter means you can vote for Congress and President, but you can’t vote in South Dakota’s state or local elections.
Accepted Proof of Citizenship
- South Dakota driver’s license or state ID card issued after July 1, 2025 (citizenship marker is on back of card)
- Driver’s license or state ID card issued by other state that indicates citizenship
- Tribal identification card
- Photocopy of birth certificate, US passport data page, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, naturalization certificate, or other accepted document (check the list here)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I register and vote on the same day in South Dakota?
Can I register to voter in South Dakot if I have been convicted of a crime?
Can I register to vote in South Dakota if I attend college in South Dakota?
College students are allowed to vote using their South Dakota school residence address. You can decide if you prefer to register in your home state or in South Dakota if you attend school there. You may only be registered and vote in one location.
South Dakota accepts student IDs from schools in the state as voter ID. Your ID must have your photo and cannot be expired.
Register to Vote in South Dakota
Submit the form below to register in South Dakota.
Don’t have a state-issued ID? VoteRiders is here to help!
3 Vote
Voting in Person
You must show an acceptable form of photo ID to vote in person in South Dakota. If you can’t get an accepted photo ID, there is another way to confirm your identity.
If you are not able to present an acceptable ID, you may still vote by signing a Personal Identification Affidavit. See the FAQ for more details.
Voting by Mail
You must either have your absentee ballot application notarized or include a copy of acceptable ID when you request to vote by mail. More info is in the FAQ below!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fix my South Dakota mail ballot if it is rejected?
There is no process to “cure” (fix) your ballot if it is rejected.
