South Dakota Administrative Rules
Title 5 - Secretary of State
Article 5:02 - State Board of Elections
Chapter 5:02:06 - Ballot forms and color
Section 5:02:06:10 - Primary ballot
The primary election ballot must have a blue indicator for the Democratic Party, white for the Republican Party, and a different color as certified by the Secretary of State for any other party. The ballot must be in one of the following forms, as applicable:
Hand counted paper ballots may only be used if there is no federal race on the ballot and must be in the following form, as applicable:
______________ PARTY
OFFICIAL PRIMARY ELECTION BALLOT
____________ COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
JUNE ________, ______
To vote use a cross (X) or a check mark (TICK) in the square in front of the name. DO NOT cast more votes than are allowed in each race.
For Governor, you may vote for one or leave it blank
[] _____________________
[] _____________________
For State Senator, District ____, you may vote for one or leave it blank
[] _____________________
[] _____________________
For State Representative, District ____, (you may vote for up to two or leave it blank) or (you may vote for one or leave it blank)
[] _____________________
[] _____________________
For State Representative, District ____ (A or B), (you may vote for up to two or leave it blank) or (you may vote for one or leave it blank)
[] _____________________
[] _____________________
For (County Treasurer) or (County Finance Officer), you may vote for one or leave it blank
[] _____________________
[] _____________________
For (County Auditor) or (County Finance Officer), you may vote for one or leave it blank
[] _____________________
[] _____________________
For States Attorney, you may vote for one or leave it blank
[] _____________________
[] _____________________
For Sheriff, you may vote for one or leave it blank
[] _____________________
[] _____________________
For Register of Deeds, you may vote for one or leave it blank
[] _____________________
[] _____________________
For Coroner, you may vote for one or leave it blank
[] _____________________
[] _____________________
For County Commissioner, District ____, you may vote for one or leave it blank
[] _____________________
[] _____________________
For County Commissioner at Large, you may vote for up to _____ or leave it blank
[] _____________________
[] _____________________
For Delegates to State Convention, you may vote for up to _____ or leave it blank
[] _____________________
[] _____________________
For Precinct Committeeman, you may vote for one or leave it blank
[] _____________________
[] _____________________
For Precinct Committeewoman, you may vote for one or leave it blank
[] _____________________
[] _____________________
If there is a federal race on the ballot, an optical scan ballot must be used and in the following format, as applicable:
Printing note: For county commissioners at large or delegates to state convention, use the correct number designations for the number of candidates to be elected. For state representative, use the correct "vote for" phrase for the number to be elected. The top right corner of the front side of each ballot must be cut off approximately one half inch from the right and top of the ballot. The person in charge of the election may select where to have the ballot stamp watermark printed on the ballot if the location is within the vendor's printing limitations.
If a municipality, school district, or other local jurisdiction has a local ballot measure and the jurisdiction combines with the primary election, that ballot measure must be included on the county ballot and must follow the administrative rule for the layout of that specific ballot measure.
General Authority: SDCL 12-1-9(2).
Law Implemented: SDCL 12-6-14, 12-16-2.1, 12-5-3.11.
