South Dakota Voter File
How to get the official South Dakota voter list from the state, what it costs, who qualifies, and how to turn the file into a canvass once it arrives.
At a glance
- Estimated fee
- $225
- Who can request
- Public (anyone via online form)
- Activate can request?
- Yes — directly
- Registered voters (estimate)
- About 602,000
- Verified against
- Source changed — re-verification pending
How to get the South Dakota voter file
South Dakota publishes the statewide voter file to anyone who submits the request form and acknowledges the limits in SDCL 12-4-9 and 12-4-41, which permit campaign and political-polling use. Activate submits that form for your campaign; the file may not be resold or posted for open internet access.
Legal basis: SDCL 12-4-9; SDCL 12-4-41; SDCL 12-4-39
What is the South Dakota voter file?
The South Dakota voter file is the official statewide list of registered voters maintained by the state election office. It typically includes voter names, addresses, party registration (where applicable), precinct, district, and voting history. Campaigns use it to organize canvassing and mail programs.
How to request the South Dakota voter file
Once you have the file, you can import it into a political canvassing tool like Activate to organize volunteers and track outreach.
- 1Confirm South Dakota accepts your requestor type (Public (anyone via online form)).
- 2Visit the official South Dakota election office request page.
- 3South Dakota publishes the statewide voter file to anyone who submits the request form and acknowledges the limits in SDCL 12-4-9 and 12-4-41, which permit campaign and political-polling use. Activate submits that form for your campaign; the file may not be resold or posted for open internet access.
- 4Receive the file and upload it securely to Activate for your campaign.
When the South Dakota file arrives, bring it into Activate
If you already have a voter file you are authorized to use, create a campaign and upload it through the campaign's voter import. Review the field mapping and import results before assigning voters to volunteers.
- Upload CSV, Excel, delimited text, or a ZIP containing supported CSV and Excel files.
- The importer detects the delimiter (comma, tab, semicolon or pipe) rather than assuming commas, and reads the UTF-16 exports some state systems still produce.
- Every value is kept as text, so a ZIP of 02134 stays 02134 and a long voter ID stays intact.
- The first 5,000 records in an import are stored free. The cost step shows the record count and the total in Credits before you confirm.
Core canvassing is free, and each import includes the first 5,000 usable records. AI-assisted preparation and additional records use Credits; SMS requires purchased Credits.
This state's voter file is not currently available in Activate. Before ordering, confirm that you qualify to request and use it, and check the election office's current fee and delivery instructions. Permission for Activate to request a file does not mean a file has been ordered or is ready to use.
Eligibility and restrictions
Eligible requestors: Public (anyone via online form)
Legal basis: SDCL 12-4-9; SDCL 12-4-41; SDCL 12-4-39
Cost and turnaround
The estimated state fee is $225. Turnaround varies by state and request volume. Delivery may be instant download, email, or physical media depending on the state. Check the official South Dakota election office page for the most current timeline.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the South Dakota voter file cost?
The South Dakota voter file costs $225 as of our last verification.
Who can request the South Dakota voter file?
Public (anyone via online form)
Can I download the South Dakota voter file online?
Some requestors may be able to request or download the file through the official South Dakota election office portal.
How long does it take to get the South Dakota voter file?
Turnaround varies by state and request volume. Check the official South Dakota election office page for current processing times.
What is in the South Dakota voter file?
State voter files typically include voter name, address, party registration (where applicable), precinct, district, and voting history fields. Exact fields vary by state and are controlled by state law.
How many voters are in the South Dakota voter file?
Our state register estimates about 602,000 registered voters in South Dakota, so a statewide file runs to roughly that many records. A district, county or city list is a fraction of it.
Can I import the South Dakota voter file into Activate?
Yes, if you are authorized to use it. Create a campaign and upload the file through the campaign's voter import. Upload CSV, Excel, delimited text, or a ZIP containing supported CSV and Excel files. The importer detects the delimiter (comma, tab, semicolon or pipe) rather than assuming commas, and reads the UTF-16 exports some state systems still produce. Every value is kept as text, so a ZIP of 02134 stays 02134 and a long voter ID stays intact. The first 5,000 records in an import are stored free. The cost step shows the record count and the total in Credits before you confirm.
Field guides
How to Get Your State's Voter File and Put It to Work in the Field
State voter files run from free to $5,000, and the fee has nothing to do with what you get. This walks through which office keeps the list, why almost every published figure is still an estimate, what actually arrives in the file, and what secure handling costs once you import it.
Bring Your Own List: Make a Voter File Import-Ready Before You Upload
A pre-upload readiness pass for a bring-your-own voter list: what a usable file looks like, where to get one when there is none, and the checks for provenance, minimization, normalization, deduplication, suppression, access, validation, and retention that decide whether the canvass built on it holds up.
Ready to use the South Dakota voter file?
Canvassing is free on Activate for local campaigns — routes, door logging, and phone banking, plus the first 5,000 records of every import. Import your voter list, invite volunteers, and start reaching voters today.
This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Voter file access laws and fees change. Confirm the current procedure with the official state election office before submitting a request.