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  "description": "Everything South Dakota voters need to know about statewide contests in the 2026 primary and general elections. ",
  "path": "/south-dakota-voter-guide-primary-general-election/",
  "publishedAt": "2025-11-10T09:00:00.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.sdnewswatch.org",
  "tags": [
    "government and political stories",
    "Voter Information Portal",
    "Download a registration form",
    "Here's an FAQ",
    "Read the results of the latest News Watch poll on the Senate race",
    "Read the results of the latest News Watch poll on the House race",
    "Read the results of the latest News Watch poll on the governor's race",
    "KELO-TV, March 31, 2026",
    "SDPB/SDNW, April 13, 2026",
    "Forum/Dakota Scout, April 27, 2026",
    "Find out which district you live in",
    "the list of candidates",
    "best practices policies",
    "Please fill out this survey",
    "Donate and make this guide possible",
    "Share your thoughts on this story",
    "sdnewswatch.org"
  ],
  "textContent": "Regardless of your voting experience or party affiliation, this guide is intended to help South Dakotans make informed decisions in the 2026 primaries and general election. **It uses fact-based reporting** to fairly and clearly explain the process and who and what is on the ballot.\n\n**The guide will be updated** as new information becomes available, so bookmark it and share it with family and friends. Send questions, suggestions or corrections to **info@sdnewswatch.org**. Read all government and political stories, including polls, profiles, ballot issue explanations and other topics.\n\n* * *\n\n## Important dates and voting basics\n\n#### When are the primary and general elections?\n\nKey dates leading up to the 2026 elections:\n\n  * April 17: Primary absentee voting begins\n  * May 18: Deadline to register or change your registration for the primary\n  * June 2: Primary election (polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time)\n  * September, dates, times and locations to be determined: Televised town halls on SDPB before the general election\n  * Sept. 18: General election absentee voting begins\n  * Oct. 19: Deadline to register or change your registration for the general election\n  * Nov. 3: General election (polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time)\n\n\n\n#### Am I qualified to vote in South Dakota?\n\nTo register to vote in South Dakota, you must:\n\n  1. Be a U.S. citizen\n  2. Live in South Dakota\n  3. Be at least 18 years old on or before next election\n  4. Not be serving a sentence for a felony\n  5. Not be judged mentally incompetent by a court\n\n\n\n#### Can I vote in the next election?\n\nEvery registered voter can vote in the November general election. But in a June primary election, a voter is given only the ballot for the party they're registered in, except for voters registered as an Independent or No Party Affiliation (NPA):\n\n  * The South Dakota Democratic Primary is open to registered Democrats and Independents/No Party Affiliation voters but not Republicans.\n  * The South Dakota Libertarian Primary is open to voters registered as Libertarian, Independent or No Party Affiliation.\n  * The South Dakota Republican Primary is open to only registered Republicans.\n\n\n\n#### How do I check if I'm registered?\n\nFirst check your current status on the Voter Information Portal that's provided by the Secretary of State and all 66 county auditors.\n\nIf you do need to register, you can do it at these places:\n\n  1. County auditor’s office\n  2. Driver’s license station\n  3. City finance offices\n  4. Public assistance agency, TANF or WIC\n  5. Department of Human Services offices that provide assistance to people with disabilities\n  6. Military recruitment offices\n  7. Download a registration form from the Secretary of State’s website\n\n\n\nHere's an FAQ with helpful information and the location of all auditors.\n\n#### How and when can I vote?\n\nThere are three ways to vote in South Dakota state elections:\n\n  1. To vote ****in person**** on Election Day, just go by your assigned polling place on your voter registration card between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. You may have to stand in line during busy times, but volunteers will walk you through the entire process.\n  2. ****Early voting**** is allowed at your county auditor's office during business hours starting 46 days before an election. Staff will help you with the process.\n  3. If you're going to be out of town on Election Day, you can submit an ****absentee ballot**** to your county auditor's office starting 46 days before an election.\n\n\n\n#### What do I need to bring with me to vote?\n\nRegardless of how you vote (in person, early or absentee), all voters must show proof of identification or sign a personal identification affidavit at their polling place. Approved forms of photo identification include:\n\n  * South Dakota driver's license or nondriver ID card\n  * U.S. government photo ID such as a passport\n  * U.S. Armed Forces ID\n  * Tribal photo ID\n  * Current student photo identification card from a South Dakota high school or South Dakota accredited institution of higher education\n\n\n\n****What questions do you have about the June 2 primary election?****\nWhether it's about how to register and vote or interpret the results, we're here to help you understand the 2026 primary election on June 2. Email me at alexander.rifaat@sdnewswatch.org or call/text 605-736-4396\n\n* * *\n\n## Who and what are on the ballot\n\nHere are the federal and state offices with races in 2026 as well as ballot measures to be considered. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name. Party affiliations are Republican (R), Democratic (D), Independent (I) and Libertarian (L). Incumbents are noted with an asterisk (*).\n\n#### U.S. Senate\n\nLike all 50 states, South Dakota has two U.S. senators, one of whom is up for re-election this year. Here are the candidates:\n\n  * Julian Beaudion (D)\n  * Brian Bengs (I)\n  * Justin McNeal (R)\n  * *Sen. Mike Rounds (R)\n\n\n\nRepublican voters will choose between McNeal and Rounds in the June 2 primary, and the winner will meet Beaudion and Bengs in the Nov. 3 general election.\n\nRead the results of the latest News Watch poll on the Senate race\n\n#### U.S. House of Representatives\n\nSouth Dakota is allocated one congressional seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Here are the candidates:\n\n  * James Bialota Jr. (R)\n  * Nicole Gronli (D)\n  * Marty Jackley (R)\n\n\n\nRepublican voters will choose between Bialota and Jackley in the June 2 primary and the winner will meet Gronli in the Nov. 3 general election.\n\nRead the results of the latest News Watch poll on the House race\n\n#### South Dakota governor\n\nSouth Dakota's governor leads the executive branch of state government in Pierre. Here are the 2026 candidates:\n\n  * Dan Ahlers (D)\n  * Toby Doeden (R)\n  * Jon Hansen (R)\n  * Dusty Johnson (R)\n  * *Gov. Larry Rhoden (R)\n\n\n\nIndependent candidates are chosen in the November general election, but Democratic and Republican candidates are chosen in the primary election in June. If Doeden, Hansen, Johnson and Rhoden doesn't receive 35% of the vote in the June 2 Republican primary, a runoff election between the two top vote-getters will be held eight weeks after the primary election, July 28. The winner of that contest will meet Ahlers in the Nov. 3 general election.\n\nRead the results of the latest News Watch poll on the governor's race\n\nAnd here are links to debates involving the four Republicans:\n\n  * KELO-TV, March 31, 2026\n  * SDPB/SDNW, April 13, 2026\n  * Forum/Dakota Scout, April 27, 2026\n\n\n\n#### Other executive offices\n\nWhile voters elect candidates for governor in the primary, political parties choose other state executive candidates at conventions. Here are the offices that have elections in 2026:\n\nAttorney general\n\nAuditor\n\nSchool and Public Lands commissioner\n\nLieutenant governor\n\nPublic Utilities Commission\n\nSecretary of state\n\nTreasurer\n\n#### South Dakota Legislature\n\nThe South Dakota Legislature is comprised of 105 lawmakers from 35 legislative districts, each of which has one senator and two representatives. Find out which district you live in and also the list of candidates.\n\n## Ballot measures on the November ballot\n\nThe following \"yes/no\" ballot measures have been approved for the Nov. 3 general election ballot:\n\n#### ****Constitutional Amendment I****\n\n****What it asks:**** Whether Medicaid expansion in the state should be conditioned on the federal government funding at least 90% of the program's cost.\n\n#### ****Constitutional Amendment J****\n\n****Title:**** An Amendment to the South Dakota Constitution Clarifying that an Individual Must Be a Citizen of the United States to be Eligible to Vote\n\n****Attorney general's explanation:**** Article VII, § 2 of the South Dakota Constitution defines who is qualified to vote in state elections. Among these qualifications are age, residency, and United States citizenship requirements. Article VII, § 2 also establishes that individuals may be disqualified from voting because of mental incompetence or a felony conviction.\n\nThis constitutional amendment adds people who are not United States citizens to the list of individuals disqualified from voting, clarifying the existing requirement that only citizens may vote in state elections.\n\nVote \"Yes\" to adopt the amendment. Vote \"No\" to leave the Constitution as it is.\n\n#### ****Constitutional Amendment K****\n\n****Title:**** An Amendment to the South Dakota Constitution Establishing the Trust for Unclaimed Property Fund\n\n****How it got on the ballot:**** The Legislature proposed it.\n\n****Attorney general's explanation:**** Under South Dakota statute, intangible property is presumed to be abandoned if it remains unclaimed by the owner for more than three years after it became payable or distributable. Examples of intangible property are traveler's checks, money orders, bank deposits, refunds, stocks, funds owed under a life insurance policy, and property held in a safe deposit box. Abandoned intangible property is transferred to the State Treasurer to hold while waiting for the owner to claim it. The State Treasurer must provide public notice of the abandoned property.\n\nThis proposed constitutional amendment establishes a trust fund where unclaimed abandoned property will be deposited. Portions of the interest and income from this fund will be distributed into the general fund for the benefit of the state. This proposed amendment requires the Legislature to determine the amount to be distributed that promotes the growth of the trust fund and the distributed amount. is.\n\nVote \"Yes\" vote to adopt the amendment. Vote \"No\" to leave the Constitution as it is.\n\n#### ****Constitutional Amendment L****\n\n****What it asks:**** Whether amendments to the state constitution should require a 60% majority by voters.\n\n* * *\n\n## News Watch's political reporting standards\n\nHere are FAQs about South Dakota News Watch's political reporting standards.\n\n#### Do South Dakota News Watch’s journalists have a political leaning?\n\nNo. We operate with integrity and independence and abide by journalism ethics that require fairness. We explore multiple sides of issues. We aren’t beholden to special interests, public officials, political parties or corporate entities. We don’t produce commentary, editorials or express opinions. And we don’t accept contributions from anonymous donors or elected officials.\n\n#### How can I trust that your political stories are accurate and fair?\n\nWe clearly state who we talked to in each story, only cite credible sources, seek comment from all sides and verify the background of personal interviewees. Our graphics often include the raw material on which stories are based, so readers can decide for themselves if we got the story right.\n\n#### How are your political stories different?\n\nOther traditional and new organizations in the state cover day-to-day developments about politics and government. South Dakota News Watch’s journalists strive to produce in-depth stories that go deeper on important issues. We research and do reporting that explains complex topics that are relevant to people and policymakers. We also conduct scientific polls and public forums that explore what’s on the minds of South Dakotans.\n\n#### Do you do hit pieces on politicians?\n\nNo. The nation’s founders believed a free press was vital to holding elected leaders accountable. Some of those politicians in office now have found it very effective to accuse all news organizations of being biased against them. We believe South Dakota News Watch should be judged on the merits of its own work because our journalists take their role seriously. Our donors, all of whom are listed on our website, represent people from across the political spectrum and appreciate that commitment. They are concerned about the state of civics and democracy and appreciate our coverage of politics and government.\n\n#### Where can I learn more about your standards?\n\nThe best practices policies in the footer of our website spells out all of our standards clearly.\n\n* * *\n\n## Help guide our coverage to better serve South Dakota\n\nWe strive to cover issues important to you, but that can be difficult in a large, diverse state. Please fill out this survey and help guide what fact-based news and information we provide to all South Dakotans for free, especially during important election years like 2026. Most of the questions are optional, so can answer only those you have thoughts about. Thank you for your help!\n\n****More than 26,000 people**** read this voter guide in 2024 and thousands more read its content through our media partners. It is a public service that South Dakota News Watch believes in because easy-to-read, fact-based, nonpartisan information is hard to find. Would you consider partnering with us in helping to cover the cost of producing this 2026 version? Thank you!\n\n\n                            Donate and make this guide possible\n                        \n\n_Sources for this guide include original reporting and publicly available resources provided by the South Dakota Secretary of State's office. It only includes information on statewide and legislative races. Details about local races can be found on each county auditor's website and the state's great local media outlets._\n\nShare your thoughts on this story\n\n_**South Dakota News Watch** is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at _sdnewswatch.org_.**Contact politics and statehouse reporter Alexander Rifaat:** 605-736-4396/__alexander.rifaat@sdnewswatch.org_ _._",
  "title": "South Dakota voter guide",
  "updatedAt": "2026-05-15T20:42:07.503Z"
}