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How To Vote
This page has the following sections:
Overview
Register to Vote
Voting Absentee and by Mail
Minnehaha County
Lincoln County
Voting in Person
Minnehaha County
Lincoln County
How To Vote: Overview
The office of the South Dakota Secretary of State is responsible for running elections at the state level. The county Auditor’s Office is responsible at the county level.
The Secretary of State has a comprehensive 20 page brochure with details on the election process. I recommend it, especially for first time voters or those new to South Dakota.
https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/assets/2020GeneralElectionInformation.pdf
How To Vote: Register to Vote
You can register to vote if you will be 18 years old on or before the election day.
You can obtain a form to register to vote from the Secretary of State’s website:
https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/voting/register-to-vote/default.aspx
Click on “Register to Vote” a the top of the third column, and scroll down to find the download button for the form:
https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/assets/VoterRegistrationFormFillable.pdf
Fill out this form (include the county name near the title of the form), print it, sign it, and mail it to your county auditor. It must be received (not postmarked) before the deadline. The deadline is 15 days before the election, which is October 19 for the November 3, 2020 election. You can also register in person at the auditor’s office by October 19.
Minnehaha County Auditor (if you live North of 57th street in District 13)
Minnehaha County Auditor (Bob Litz)
415 N Dakota Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57104-2465
Phone: (605) 367-4220
Fax: (605) 367-7409
Email: blitz@minnehahacounty.org
Lincoln County Auditor (if you live South of 57th street in District 13)
Lincoln County Auditor (Marlene Sweeter)
104 N Main, Ste 110
Canton, SD 57013-1703
Phone: (605) 764-2581
Fax: (605) 764-0134
Email: Auditor@lincolncountysd.org
How To Vote: Absentee and by Mail
Absentee voting and Mail voting starts September 18, 2020.
The Secretary of State has a site where you can request an absentee ballot:
https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/voting/absentee-voting.aspx
Read the instructions there, then print and sign the form.
https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/assets/AbsenteeBallotApplicationFillable.pdf
You will need to attach a photocopy of your identification card (ID), or get the form notarized. The ID can be a South Dakota driver's license or non-driver ID card, a passport or other picture ID issued by the United States government, a tribal photo ID, or a current student photo ID issued by a South Dakota high school or postsecondary education institution. A new absentee ballot application must be completed each calendar year. The ballot request must be completed before 5:00 p.m. the day before the election. See the form and the site above if you need a messenger to obtain and return your ballot because you are confined by sickness or disability. You can do your absentee voting in person at the Auditor’s Office. A notary is available in Lincoln County but not in Minnehaha County.
Minnehaha County Auditor (Bob Litz)
415 N Dakota Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57104-2465
Phone: (605) 367-4220
Fax: (605) 367-7409
Email: blitz@minnehahacounty.org
Lincoln County Auditor (Marlene Sweeter)
104 N Main, Ste 110
Canton, SD 57013-1703
Phone: (605) 764-2581
Fax: (605) 764-0134
Email: Auditor@lincolncountysd.org
How To Vote: In Person on Election Day
Polls are open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. If you are at the polling place by 7:00 pm, you should be allowed to vote even if there is still a line (see SD Codified Laws 12-2-3). If you make a mistake on the ballot, you may ask for a new one. There are two votes for the S.D. House of Representatives. There are also two constitutional amendments and an initiated measure. You can check your polling place and see a sample ballot by logging in at the Secretary of State Voter Information Portal (VIP):
Enter your name and Date of Birth or Zip code, and fill in a verification code (to show you are a real person and not a robot). Enter your name as you registered to vote. No password is required.
https://vip.sdsos.gov/VIPLogin.aspx
If you have trouble, you can find your polling place from the map at the County Auditor’s website, or find your precinct below (information current as of 9/6/2020).
Minnehaha County
https://www.minnehahacounty.org/dept/au/election/precinct_info/precinct_info.php
and a map at
District 13 has 9 precincts in Minnehaha County (North of 57th Street).
The polling places by precinct are:
Precinct 2-1 (between Western Ave and Cliff Ave, South of the Big Sioux River, North of 57th Street): vote at Calvary Chapel Sioux Falls, 1605 W 51st St
Precinct 5-4 (between Minnesota Ave and Cliff Ave, south of 14th Street or the railroad, north of 21st Street): vote at Dakota Abilities, 1116 S 4th Ave
Precinct 5-7 (between S 4th Ave and Cliff Ave, south of 21st Street, north of 33rd Street): vote at All Souls Church, 2222 S Cliff Ave
Precinct 5-8 (between Minnesota Ave and S 4th Ave, south of 21st Street, north of 31st Street): vote at Instructional Planning Center, 201 E 38th St
Precinct 5-9 (between Grange Ave and Minnesota Ave, south of 26th Street, north of 37th Street): vote at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 909 W 33rd St
Precinct 5-10 (between Willow Ave and Minnesota Ave, south of 26th Street, north of 37th Street): vote at First Presbyterian Church, 2300 S West Ave
Precinct 5-11 (between Western Ave and Minnesota Ave, south of 37th Street, north of the Big Sioux River): vote at Calvary Chapel Sioux Falls, 1605 W 51st St
Precinct 5-12 (between Minnesota Ave and S 4th Ave, south of 31st Street, north of the Big Sioux River): vote at Instructional Planning Center, 201 E 38th St
Precinct 5-13 (East of S 4th Ave, south of 33rd Street, west or north of the Big Sioux River): vote at Instructional Planning Center, 201 E 38th St
Lincoln County
https://www.lincolncountysd.org/Page.cfm/Departments/4/Auditor-/-Elections
and for a map:
https://www.lincolncountysd.org/userfiles/file/GIS/Election/19%20SF%20Polling%20Places%20Map.pdf
District 13 has 4 precincts in Lincoln County (South of 57th Street):
Precinct Sioux Falls 2-10 (between Western Ave and Minnesota Ave, south of 57th Street, north of La Quinta Street): vote at Faith Baptist Fellowship Church, 601 W 57th Street
Precinct Sioux Falls 2-11 (between Minnesota Ave and Tomar Rd, south of 57th Street, north of 89th Street): vote at Faith Baptist Fellowship Church, 601 W 57th Street
Precinct Sioux Falls 2-12 (between Tomar Rd and Cliff Ave, south of 57th Street, north of 85th Street): vote at Linwood Wesleyan Church, 1101 E 57th Street
Precinct Sioux Falls 2-15 (between Western Ave and Minnesota Ave, south of La Quinta Street, north of 89th Street): vote at Faith Baptist Fellowship Church, 601 W 57th Street