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South Dakota Democracy Profile

Quick Facts About South Dakota

Total Voting Eligible Population

648,104 United States Election Project

Total Turnout in 2020 Election

427,529 United States Election Project

Number of House Seats in 2022

1

2020 Presidential Vote %

62
36
2
Rep
Dem
Ind

South Dakota's Democracy Tally

Overall Tally:
10/34.5

Who Votes: 0.75/11

Voter Registration-0.75/5
Representation & Participation1.5/6

How to Vote: 3.75/10.5

Voting in Person3/5.5
Voting by Mail0.75/5

Protecting the Vote: 5.5/13

Election Security4/7
Independence & Integrity1.5/6
View Methodology/More Information
See how South Dakota compares to the rest of the country on the Snapshot page.

South Dakota's Democracy and Election Laws and Policies

Click on each issue for more information and to see where the state fits into the national landscape.

Key
  • Indicates state law or policy
  • Indicates local laws or policies and/or partial law
  • Indicates no law or policy
  • Enumeration not applicable

Who Votes

Voter Registration Score
Law Exists? Tally
Automatic Voter Registration
0/1
Negative Law: Voter Roll Purges Based Solely on Infrequent Voting NEGATIVE LAW -1/-1
Online Voter Registration
0/1
Registration Deadlines
0.5/1
Membership in Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)
0/1
Negative Law: Restrictions on Voter Registration Drives NEGATIVE LAW -0.5/-1
Voter Preregistration
0.25/1
Voter Registration Total -0.75/5
Representation & Participation Score
Law Exists? Tally
Direct Citizen Initiative Process
1/1
Native American Voting Protections
0/1
Partisanship of State Primary Election Systems
0/1
Voter Registration Rates
0/1
Voter Turnout Percentage
0.5/1
Voting Rights for Formerly Incarcerated People
0/1
Representation & Participation Total 1.5/6

How to Vote

Protecting the Vote

South Dakota's Democracy Tally

Overall Tally:
10/34.5

Who Votes: 0.75/11

Voter Registration-0.75/5
Representation & Participation1.5/6

How to Vote: 3.75/10.5

Voting in Person3/5.5
Voting by Mail0.75/5

Protecting the Vote: 5.5/13

Election Security4/7
Independence & Integrity1.5/6
View Methodology/More Information
See how South Dakota compares to the rest of the country on the Snapshot page.

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Sexual Orientation Policy Tally

The term “sexual orientation” is loosely defined as a person’s pattern of romantic or sexual attraction to people of the opposite sex or gender, the same sex or gender, or more than one sex or gender. Laws that explicitly mention sexual orientation primarily protect or harm lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. That said, transgender people who are lesbian, gay or bisexual can be affected by laws that explicitly mention sexual orientation.

Gender Identity Policy Tally

“Gender identity” is a person’s deeply-felt inner sense of being male, female, or something else or in-between. “Gender expression” refers to a person’s characteristics and behaviors such as appearance, dress, mannerisms and speech patterns that can be described as masculine, feminine, or something else. Gender identity and expression are independent of sexual orientation, and transgender people may identify as heterosexual, lesbian, gay or bisexual. Laws that explicitly mention “gender identity” or “gender identity and expression” primarily protect or harm transgender people. These laws also can apply to people who are not transgender, but whose sense of gender or manner of dress does not adhere to gender stereotypes.

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