State facts
- Population
- 935,094 (2025 estimate; 886,656 in the 2020 Census)
- Seats in the U.S. House
- 1
- State legislature
- Senate: 35 members, 2-year terms
- House of Representatives: 70 members, 2-year terms
- Governor’s term
- Four-year term, limited to two terms in a row; after four years out of office, a former governor may run again.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 state population estimates; National Conference of State Legislatures. Checked October 19, 2026.
Who represents South Dakota now
- Governor
- Larry Rhoden · Republican · since January 2025Seat on the Nov. 3 ballot
- U.S. senators
- Mike Rounds · Republican · since 2015Seat on the Nov. 3 ballot
- John Thune · Republican · since 2005
- U.S. House members
- 1 seat · Republican: 1
Sources: National Governors Association (party and start date: Wikidata); congress-legislators (current members of Congress). Checked October 19, 2026.
Voting in South Dakota
From the state election office’s own website. Each answer shows the official wording it comes from.
- Registration deadline
Your county auditor must receive your registration by 5:00 p.m., 15 days before Election Day. For the November 3, 2026 general election, that is October 19, 2026.
Official wording: “Your county auditor must receive your registration by 5:00 p.m., 15 days before Election Day. For the July 28, 2026 runoff, that deadline is July 13, 2026. For the November 3, 2026 general election, it's October 19, 2026.” — state election office, page read October 18, 2026
- Early voting
Once absentee voting opens, you can apply and vote in person at your county auditor's office, with a valid photo ID or a signed personal identification affidavit.
Official wording: “Once absentee voting opens, you can also apply and vote in person at your county auditor's office — bring a valid photo ID, or sign a personal identification affidavit if you don't have one.” — state election office, page read October 18, 2026
- Election Day hours
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.
Official wording: “Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time” — state election office, page read October 14, 2026
For anything not listed, and to check your registration, see South Dakota’s election office: sdsos.gov
Ballot measures3
Federal1
Statewide2
Federal candidate lists come from FEC filings. A candidate is marked “on the ballot” once their campaign files a pre-general report or the state’s official candidate list confirms it; others filed for 2026 but may have lost a primary or withdrawn.