South Dakota Counties Delayed in Finalizing Ballots

Absentee voting start pushed back due to extended petition challenge period

Apr. 16, 2026 at 4:47pm

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A dynamic, abstract painting featuring a fragmented ballot box shape in shades of blue, gray, and orange, conveying the disruption and challenges facing election officials.The delayed certification of ballots in South Dakota counties could impact voter access and turnout ahead of the upcoming election.Flandreau Today

Officials in multiple South Dakota counties have announced they will not have ballots ready in time for the scheduled start of absentee voting this Friday. The delay is due to the long window for petition challenges, which has pushed back the certification of ballots by the Secretary of State's office until Wednesday. While the candidate filing deadline was March 31st, the petition deadline was April 13th, leaving county auditors with more signatures to verify before ballots can be finalized.

Why it matters

The delay in finalizing ballots could impact voter access and turnout, as absentee voters may not be able to cast their ballots as early as planned. This highlights the challenges election officials face in balancing petition processes with the need to provide timely ballot access.

The details

County officials say they hope to have absentee voting open for voters next week, once the ballot certification process is complete. The extended petition deadline has left auditors with more signatures to verify before the ballots can be finalized and approved by the Secretary of State's office.

  • The candidate filing deadline was March 31st.
  • The petition deadline was April 13th.
  • Absentee voting was originally scheduled to begin on April 18th.
  • Ballot certification is now expected to be completed by the Secretary of State's office on April 20th.

The players

South Dakota Secretary of State's Office

The state agency responsible for overseeing and certifying election ballots.

County Auditors

Local election officials tasked with verifying petition signatures and finalizing ballots for their respective counties.

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What’s next

County officials say they hope to have absentee voting open for voters next week, once the ballot certification process is complete.

The takeaway

This delay in finalizing ballots highlights the challenges election officials face in balancing petition processes with the need to provide timely ballot access for voters. It underscores the importance of clear and efficient election procedures to ensure all eligible voters can participate.