South Dakota voters, if you have already submitted your ballot, good work! You have demonstrated your commitment to democracy and to public health.
If you want to make sure your ballot has been received, check the South Dakota Voter Information Portal. Punch in your name plus your date of birth or your ZIP code, and you’ll see a page telling you your registration status and where your polling places are. Scroll down and you’ll see Secretary of State Steve Barnett’s information on when you requested your ballot, when that ballot was sent to you, and, if you’ve submitted that ballot, when your county auditor received it:
I dropped my ballot in the red-white-and-blue box outside the Brown County Courthouse during lunch on September 22; the SDVIP says county auditor Cathy McNickle brought those ballots in and put mine in the Received pile that same day. Thanks, Cathy!
If you still have an absentee ballot in your hands, you have until 7 p.m. to get that ballot to your courthouse or polling place. Don’t put it in the mail today or tomorrow; take that ballot to the auditor. If you haven’t requested an absentee ballot and you’re not able to get out of the house, you’ll need to apply for an authorized messenger to bring you a ballot and deliver your marked ballot to the polls. Call your auditor for details on that process. But if you are mobile, put on your mask, go to the courthouse to vote today, or go to your polling place (again, check the SD Voter Information Portal!) and cast your vote tomorrow.
I beat you to the ballot box by one day. I dropped my ballot off on September 21. I prefer to vote on election day at my neighborhood polling place, but not this year. I used to disparage early voting, but it’s a life-saver in a pandemic.
This is great info. Thanks for sharing it!