South Dakota
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Federal Election Deadlines
| Registration | Received by May 18, 2020 | Received by May 18, 2020 | Received by October 19, 2020 |
| Ballot Request | Received by June 2, 2020 | Received by June 2, 2020 | Received by November 3, 2020 |
| Ballot Return | Received by 7 PM, June 2, 2020 | Received by 7 PM, June 2, 2020 | Received by 7 PM, November 3, 2020 |
Please mail your voting materials early enough to account for mail delivery times. Check the recommended mailing dates section in Chapter 1 for details.
Important information
- What is UOCAVA?
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The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act is commonly referred to as UOCAVA. UOCAVA citizens are U.S. citizens who are active members of the Uniformed Services, the Merchant Marine, the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, their eligible family members and other U.S. citizens residing outside the United States. The law provides the legal basis for absentee voting requirements for federal offices.
- What is the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)?
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The FPCA (Federal Standard Form 76) allows UOCAVA citizens to register to vote and request an absentee ballot. This form is also used to update your contact information.
- What is the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB)?
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The FWAB (Federal Standard Form 186) serves as an emergency backup ballot for UOCAVA citizens. If you do not receive your absentee ballot from your state in time to return it to your election official to participate in the election, use the FWAB.
- What is the DoD Fax Service?
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The DoD Fax Service is for those voters who cannot send their election materials directly to their election officials. To fax your election materials, use the Transmission Cover Sheet found in Chapter 1 or online at FVAP.gov and fax to: (703) 693-5527, DSN 223-5527 or toll-free from the U.S., Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to 1-800-368-8683. If you need to send your election materials to your election official by fax, but do not have access to a fax machine, you can email them to fax@fvap.gov and FVAP will fax your election materials for you. This service is fax only. If your state accepts your election materials by email you should email them directly to your election official. FVAP will not transmit email-to-email transactions.
- What is the Prepaid Mail Label 11- DoD?
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Overseas Uniformed Service members can use this label for general election absentee ballots. It provides free express mail service to your election official for general election absentee ballots. You can request to have a Prepaid Mail Label 11-DoD applied to your absentee ballot at Military Postal Office locations (APO/FPO). Keep part of the tracking label to track your absentee ballot through the U.S. Postal Service.
- What is a primary election?
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A primary election is an election held before the general election to determine the candidates that can be placed on the general election ballot.
- What is a runoff election?
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A runoff election is an election held if the state requires that a candidate receive a certain percentage of the votes in order to advance to a general election or take public office.
- I am an American citizen, but I have never lived in the U.S., can I vote in this state?
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A U.S. citizen who has never resided in the U.S., and has a parent or spouse who was last domiciled in South Dakota, is eligible to vote in South Dakota as long as he or she has not registered or voted in another state.
- I am a National Guardsman activated on state orders; does my state afford me UOCAVA privileges?
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Yes.
- How can I check the status of my ballot?
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You can check the status of your absentee ballot here:
https://vip.sdsos.gov/VIPLogin.aspx - Does my state have any online tools?
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You can see if your state has any online tools available here:
https://www.fvap.gov/south-dakota
Registering and requesting your absentee ballot
Under federal law, the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) registers you to vote and requests absentee ballots for a minimum of all federal elections in the current calendar year. Be sure to complete a new FPCA each year and every time your address changes.
Complete the following sections of the FPCA
| Section 1 | Select the category that best describes you. |
| Section 2 | Enter the complete street address of your voting residence where you are registering to vote and requesting an absentee ballot. You cannot use a post office box mailing address. If your address is a rural route, use Section 6 to describe the location of your voting residence. |
| Section 3 | Enter your current mailing address, even if you are requesting your ballot by email/online or fax. If you want your election materials sent to a different address or have a forwarding address, use the forwarding address space to provide this information. |
| Section 4 | Your contact information is recommended so your election official can contact you if they need additional information from you in order to accept your FPCA. If you want to receive your absentee ballot by email/online, you must provide your email address. |
| Section 5 | A. You can receive your absentee ballot by mail or email/online. Select your preferred method of receiving your absentee ballot. |
| Section 6 | Provide any information that may assist your election official in accepting this form. You can use this space to designate particular elections or the period you wish to receive ballots. |
| Section 7 | Sign and date the form. No witness signature required. |
- Section 1
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Select the category that best describes you.
Enter your current name (Last, First). If you are registered under a different name, provide this information in the previous name area.
Your date of birth is required.
You must provide either a South Dakota driver's license number or the last four digits of your Social Security Number. If you do not have either of these numbers you must enter in Section 6: "I do not have a Social Security Number or a South Dakota driver's license number." - Section 2
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Enter the complete street address of your voting residence where you are registering to vote and requesting an absentee ballot. You cannot use a post office box mailing address. If your address is a rural route, use Section 6 to describe the location of your voting residence.
- Section 3
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Enter your current mailing address, even if you are requesting your ballot by email/online or fax. If you want your election materials sent to a different address or have a forwarding address, use the forwarding address space to provide this information.
- Section 4
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Your contact information is recommended so your election official can contact you if they need additional information from you in order to accept your FPCA. If you want to receive your absentee ballot by email/online, you must provide your email address.
- Section 5
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A. You can receive your absentee ballot by mail or email/online. Select your preferred method of receiving your absentee ballot.
B. To vote in primary elections, you must enter the name of the party ballot you want to receive. Political party affiliation is not required if requesting an absentee ballot for general elections. - Section 6
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Provide any information that may assist your election official in accepting this form. You can use this space to designate particular elections or the period you wish to receive ballots.
- Section 7
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Sign and date the form. No witness signature required.
How and where to submit your FPCA
If you are using the FPCA to register to vote, you must mail the form.
If you are already registered and are using the FPCA to request an absentee ballot, you can mail, email or fax your signed form to your election official. Contact information can be found in the "Local Election Offices" section or online at FVAP.gov.
Mail your FPCA: Once your FPCA is complete, sign and date the form. Mail your FPCA directly to your election official.
Email your FPCA: Once your FPCA is complete, sign and date the form. Scan the signed FPCA into your computer. Be sure to also include the "Transmission Cover Sheet". Email this package directly to your election official.
Fax your FPCA: Once your FPCA is complete, sign and date the form. Fax your FPCA directly to your election official. Be sure to also include the "Transmission Cover Sheet". You may use the DoD Fax Service to fax your FPCA if you do not have access to a fax machine to fax your election official directly. Instructions for the DoD Fax Service are in the "Important Information" section or online at FVAP.gov.
To find out the status of your FPCA, contact your election official. Your election official will contact you if your FPCA is not accepted.
Voting your ballot
Once you receive your absentee ballot from your state it must be returned according to the deadlines and requirements in the "Federal Election Deadlines" chart. For special federal elections, visit FVAP.gov for specific deadlines.
The state absentee ballot must be mailed to your election official. The address of your election official can be found in the "Local Election Offices" section. Overseas Uniformed Service members can request to have the Prepaid Mail Label 11-DoD applied to the general election ballot. Additional information about this label can be found in the "Important Information" section.
Haven't received your ballot? Use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot
You must be registered to vote and have already requested a state absentee ballot in order to use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB).
You can use the FWAB to vote in federal elections.
Complete the following sections of the FWAB's voter information page
| Section 1 | Select the category that best describes you. |
| Section 2 | Enter the complete street address of your voting residence where you are registering to vote and requesting an absentee ballot. You cannot use a post office box mailing address. If your address is a rural route, use Section 6 to describe the location of your voting residence. |
| Section 3 | Enter your current mailing address. If you want your election materials sent to a different address or have a forwarding address, use the forwarding address space to provide this information. |
| Section 4 | Your contact information is recommended so your election official can contact you if they need additional information from you in order to accept your FWAB. |
| Section 5 | A. Do not check "Yes" or "No." The FWAB cannot be used for voter registration or as a ballot request. |
| Section 6 | Provide any information that may assist the local election official in accepting this form. |
| Section 7 | Sign and date the form. No witness signature required. |
- Section 1
-
Select the category that best describes you.
Enter your current name (Last, First). If you are registered under a different name, provide this information in the previous name area. - Section 2
-
Enter the complete street address of your voting residence where you are registering to vote and requesting an absentee ballot. You cannot use a post office box mailing address. If your address is a rural route, use Section 6 to describe the location of your voting residence.
- Section 3
-
Enter your current mailing address. If you want your election materials sent to a different address or have a forwarding address, use the forwarding address space to provide this information.
- Section 4
-
Your contact information is recommended so your election official can contact you if they need additional information from you in order to accept your FWAB.
- Section 5
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A. Do not check "Yes" or "No." The FWAB cannot be used for voter registration or as a ballot request.
B. You can receive your absentee ballot by mail, email/online or fax. Select your preferred method of receiving your absentee ballot.
C. To vote in primary elections, you must enter the name of the party primary in which you are voting. Political party affiliation is not required if voting an absentee ballot in general elections. - Section 6
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Provide any information that may assist the local election official in accepting this form.
- Section 7
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Sign and date the form. No witness signature required.
Vote your FWAB
To vote, write in either a candidate's name or political party for each office. You are not required to make a selection for each and every contest.
How and where to submit your FWAB
The FWAB must be mailed to your election official. Addresses can be found in the "Local Election Offices" section or online at FVAP.gov.
Mail your FWAB: Once your FWAB is complete, sign and date the "Voter Information" page. Fold along the dotted line and seal the completed "Official Backup Ballot", do not write on the "Official Ballot" envelope. Insert the sealed "Official Ballot" envelope and the "Voter Information" page into the mailing envelope and mail your FWAB directly to your election official. Overseas Uniformed Service members can request to have the Prepaid Mail Label 11-DoD applied to the general election ballot. Additional information about this label can be found in the "Important Information" section or online at FVAP.gov.
See the "Federal Election Deadlines" chart for the deadline for submitting the FWAB. If you receive the state absentee ballot after transmitting your voted FWAB, you may also vote and return the state absentee ballot. If both are received by the deadline, only the state absentee ballot will be counted.
Local election offices for countySearch Offices
| County | Mailing Address |
|---|---|
| Aurora | Aurora County Auditor P.O. Box 397 Plankinton, SD 57368-0397 Phone: (605) 942-7752 Fax: (605) 942-7746 Email: susan.urban@state.sd.us |
| Beadle | Beadle County Auditor 450 3rd St SW, Ste 201 Huron, SD 57350-1868 Phone: (605) 353-8400 Fax: (605) 353-8402 Email: auditor@beadlesd.org |
| Bennett | Bennett County Auditor P.O. Box 460 Martin, SD 57551-0460 Phone: (605) 685-6931 Fax: (605) 685-6311 Email: susan.williams@state.sd.us |
| Bon Homme | Bon Homme County Auditor P.O. Box 605 Tyndall, SD 57066-0605 Phone: (605) 589-4212 Fax: (605) 589-4202 Email: tamara.brunken@state.sd.us |
| Brookings | Brookings County Auditor 520 3rd St, Ste 100 Brookings, SD 57006-2024 Phone: (605) 696-8250 Fax: (605) 696-8259 Email: vbuseth@brookingscountysd.gov |
| Brown | Brown County Auditor 25 Market St, Ste 1 Aberdeen, SD 57401-4293 Phone: (605) 626-7110 Fax: (605) 626-4010 Email: Cathy.McNickle@browncounty.sd.gov |
| Brule | Brule County Auditor 300 S Courtland, Ste 103 Chamberlain, SD 57325-1599 Phone: (605) 234-4430 Fax: (605) 234-4430 Email: brulaud@midstatesd.net |
| Buffalo | Buffalo County Auditor P.O. Box 146 Gann Valley, SD 57341-0146 Phone: (605) 293-3217 Fax: (605) 293-3240 Email: buffalo.aud@midstatesd.net |
| Butte | Butte County Auditor 117 5th Avenue Belle Fourche, SD 57717-1139 Phone: (605) 892-4485 Fax: (605) 723-0057 Email: auditor@buttesd.org |
| Campbell | Campbell County Auditor P.O. Box 37 Mound City, SD 57646-0037 Phone: (605) 955-3366 Fax: (605) 955-3308 Email: campbellcommission@yahoo.com |
| Charles Mix | Charles Mix County Auditor P.O. Box 490 Lake Andes, SD 57356-0490 Phone: (605) 487-7131 Fax: (605) 487-7221 Email: drolston@charlesmix.org |
| Clark | Clark County Auditor P.O. Box 294 Clark, SD 57225-0294 Phone: (605) 532-5921 Fax: (605) 532-5931 Email: christine.tarbox@state.sd.us |
| Clay | Clay County Auditor 211 W Main St, Ste 200 Vermillion, SD 57069-2039 Phone: (605) 677-7120 Fax: (605) 677-7109 Email: carri.crum@claycountysd.org |
| Codington | Codington County Auditor 14 First Ave SE Watertown, SD 57201-3611 Phone: (605) 882-6297 Fax: (605) 882-6288 Email: cbrugman@codington.org |
| Corson | Corson County Auditor P.O. Box 255 McIntosh, SD 57641-0255 Phone: (605) 273-4229 Fax: (605) 273-4233 Email: corsonauditor@sdplains.com |
| Custer | Custer County Auditor 420 Mt Rushmore Rd Custer, SD 57730-1934 Phone: (605) 673-8173 Fax: (605) 673-8121 Email: tcornelison@custercountysd.com |
| Davison | Davison County Auditor 200 E 4th St Mitchell, SD 57301-2692 Phone: (605) 995-8608 Fax: (605) 995-8618 Email: auditor@davisoncounty.org |
| Day | Day County Auditor 711 W 1st St Webster, SD 57274-1364 Phone: (605) 345-9500 Fax: (605) 345-9515 Email: auditor@daycounty.org |
| Deuel | Deuel County Auditor P.O. Box 616 Clear Lake, SD 57226-0616 Phone: (605) 874-2312 Fax: (605) 874-1306 Email: dcaud1@itctel.com |
| Dewey | Dewey County Auditor P.O. Box 277 Timber Lake, SD 57656-0277 Phone: (605) 865-3672 Fax: (605) 865-3691 Email: Kyrie.Lemburg@state.sd.us |
| Douglas | Douglas County Auditor P.O. Box 159 Armour, SD 57313-0159 Phone: (605) 724-2423 Fax: (605) 724-2204 Email: phyllis.barker@state.sd.us |
| Edmunds | Edmunds County Auditor P.O. Box 97 Ipswich, SD 57451-0097 Phone: (605) 426-6762 Fax: (605) 426-6164 Email: kschurr@midco.net |
| Fall River | Fall River County Auditor 906 N River St Hot Springs, SD 57747-1398 Phone: (605) 745-5130 Fax: (605) 745-6835 Email: sue.ganje@state.sd.us |
| Faulk | Faulk County Auditor P.O. Box 309 Faulkton, SD 57438-0309 Phone: (605) 598-6224 Fax: (605) 598-6680 Email: faulkaud@venturecomm.net |
| Grant | Grant County Auditor 210 E Fifth Ave Milbank, SD 57252-2499 Phone: (605) 432-6711 Fax: (605) 432-9004 Email: karen.layher@state.sd.us |
| Gregory | Gregory County Auditor P.O. Box 437 Burke, SD 57523-0413 Phone: (605) 775-2664 Fax: (605) 775-2596 Email: Julie.Bartling@state.sd.us |
| Haakon | Haakon County Auditor P.O. Box 698 Philip, SD 57567-0698 Phone: (605) 859-2800 Fax: (605) 859-2801 Email: haakon@gwtc.net |
| Hamlin | Hamlin County Auditor P.O. Box 237 Hayti, SD 57241-0237 Phone: (605) 783-3201 Fax: (605) 783-3201 Email: dixie.opdahl@state.sd.us |
| Hand | Hand County Auditor 415 W First Ave Miller, SD 57362-1346 Phone: (605) 853-2182 Fax: (605) 853-2769 Email: auditor.handcoem@midconetwork.com |
| Hanson | Hanson County Auditor P.O. Box 500 Alexandria, SD 57311-0500 Phone: (605) 239-4714 Fax: (605) 239-4296 Email: lesa.trabing@state.sd.us |
| Harding | Harding County Auditor P.O. Box 26 Buffalo, SD 57720-0026 Phone: (605) 375-3313 Fax: (605) 375-3318 Email: kathy.glines@state.sd.us |
| Hughes | Hughes County Auditor 104 E Capitol Ave Pierre, SD 57501-2591 Phone: (605) 773-7451 Fax: (605) 773-7479 Email: Jane.Naylor@co.hughes.sd.us |
| Hutchinson | Hutchinson County Auditor 140 Euclid, Rm 128 Olivet, SD 57052-0128 Phone: (605) 387-4212 Fax: (605) 387-4209 Email: dmurtha@hutchinsoncounty.org |
| Hyde | Hyde County Auditor P.O. Box 379 Highmore, SD 57345-0379 Phone: (605) 852-2519 Fax: (605) 852-3178 Email: hydeaud@venturecomm.net |
| Jackson | Jackson County Auditor P.O. Box 280 Kadoka, SD 57543-0280 Phone: (605) 837-2422 Fax: (605) 837-2447 Email: vicki.wilson@state.sd.us |
| Jerauld | Jerauld County Auditor P.O. Box 422 Wessington Springs, SD 57382-0422 Phone: (605) 539-9301 Fax: (605) 539-9125 Email: cindy.peterson@state.sd.us |
| Jones | Jones County Auditor P.O. Box 307 Murdo, SD 57559-0307 Phone: (605) 669-7100 Fax: (605) 669-7120 Email: jonesaud@goldenwest.net |
| Kingsbury | Kingsbury County Auditor P.O. Box 196 Desmet, SD 57231-0196 Phone: (605) 854-3832 Fax: (605) 854-3833 Email: aud1@kingsburycountysd.org |
| Lake | Lake County Auditor 200 E Center Madison, SD 57042-2941 Phone: (605) 256-7600 Fax: (605) 256-7622 Email: lakeauditor@lake.sd.gov |
| Lawrence | Lawrence County Auditor P.O. Box F Deadwood, SD 57732-0678 Phone: (605) 578-1941 Fax: (605) 578-1065 Email: voters@lawrence.sd.us |
| Lincoln | Lincoln County Auditor 104 N Main, Ste 110 Canton, SD 57013-1703 Phone: (605) 764-2581 Fax: (605) 764-0134 Email: Auditor@lincolncountysd.org |
| Lyman | Lyman County Auditor P.O. Box 38 Kennebec, SD 57544-0038 Phone: (605) 869-2247 Fax: (605) 869-2247 Email: auditor@lymancounty.org |
| Marshall | Marshall County Auditor P.O. Box 130 Britton, SD 57430-0130 Phone: (605) 448-2401 Fax: (605) 448-2116 Email: mcauditor@venturecomm.net |
| McCook | McCook County Auditor P.O. Box 190 Salem, SD 57058-0190 Phone: (605) 425-2791 Fax: (605) 425-2534 Email: mccookaud@triotel.net |
| McPherson | McPherson County Auditor P.O. Box 390 Leola, SD 57456-0448 Phone: (605) 439-3314 Fax: (605) 439-3394 Email: mcphersonaud@valleytel.net |
| Meade | Meade County Auditor 1300 Sherman St, Ste 126 Sturgis, SD 57785 Phone: (605) 347-2360 Fax: (605) 720-6624 Email: auditor@meadecounty.org |
| Mellette | Mellette County Auditor P.O. Box C White River, SD 57579-0403 Phone: (605) 259-3291 Fax: (605) 259-3194 Email: mellettecounty@gmail.com |
| Miner | Miner County Auditor P.O. Box 86 Howard, SD 57349-0086 Phone: (605) 772-4671 Fax: (605) 772-4821 Email: minerauditor@minercountysd.org |
| Minnehaha | Minnehaha County Auditor 415 N Dakota Ave Sioux Falls, SD 57104-2465 Phone: (605) 367-4220 Fax: (605) 367-7409 Email: blitz@minnehahacounty.org |
| Moody | Moody County Auditor 101 E Pipestone Ave, Ste D Flandreau, SD 57028-1750 Phone: (605) 997-3161 Fax: (605) 997-9996 Email: mcaud1@moodycounty.net |
| Oglala Lakota | Oglala Lakota County Auditor 906 N River St Hot Springs, SD 57747-1398 Phone: (605) 745-5130 Fax: (605) 745-6835 Email: sue.ganje@state.sd.us |
| Pennington | Pennington County Auditor 130 Kansas City St. Suite 230 Rapid City, SD 57701 Phone: (605) 394-2153 Fax: (605) 394-6840 Email: loris@pennco.org |
| Perkins | Perkins County Auditor P.O. Box 126 Bison, SD 57620-0126 Phone: (605) 244-5624 Fax: (605) 231-5560 Email: pkaud@sdplains.com |
| Potter | Potter County Auditor 201 S Exene Gettysburg, SD 57442-1521 Phone: (605) 765-9408 Fax: (605) 765-2332 Email: pcaudit@venturecomm.net |
| Roberts | Roberts County Auditor 411 2nd Ave E Sisseton, SD 57262-1495 Phone: (605) 698-7336 Fax: (605) 698-4277 Email: dawn.sattler@state.sd.us |
| Sanborn | Sanborn County Auditor P.O. Box 7 Woonsocket, SD 57385-0007 Phone: (605) 796-4513 Fax: (605) 796-4509 Email: Dianel@sanborncounty.net |
| Spink | Spink County Auditor 210 E 7th Ave, Ste 5 Redfield, SD 57469-1266 Phone: (605) 472-4580 Fax: (605) 472-4582 Email: spinkcoauditor@nrctv.com |
| Stanley | Stanley County Auditor P.O. Box 595 Fort Pierre, SD 57532-0595 Phone: (605) 223-7780 Fax: (605) 223-7791 Email: scauditor@midconetwork.com |
| Sully | Sully County Auditor P.O. Box 265 Onida, SD 57564-0265 Phone: (605) 258-2541 Fax: (605) 258-2884 Email: sullyaud@venturecomm.net |
| Todd | Todd County Auditor 200 East 3rd Winner, SD 57580-1806 Phone: (605) 842-3727 Fax: (605) 842-3621 Email: bdesersa@trippcounty.us |
| Tripp | Tripp County Auditor 200 East 3rd Winner, SD 57580-1806 Phone: (605) 842-3727 Fax: (605) 842-1116 Email: bdesersa@trippcounty.us |
| Turner | Turner County Auditor P.O. Box 370 Parker, SD 57053-0370 Phone: (605) 297-3153 Fax: (605) 297-5556 Email: turcoaud@iw.net |
| Union | Union County Auditor 209 E Main St, Ste 200 Elk Point, SD 57025-2327 Phone: (605) 356-2101 Fax: (605) 356-3047 Email: ucauditor@unioncountysd.org |
| Walworth | Walworth County Auditor P.O. Box 199 Selby, SD 57472-0199 Phone: (605) 649-7878 Fax: (605) 649-7867 Email: rkrein@walworthco.org |
| Yankton | Yankton County Auditor 321 W 3rd St, Ste 100 Yankton, SD 57078-0137 Phone: (605) 260-4436 Fax: (605) 260-4494 Email: patty@co.yankton.sd.us |
| Ziebach | Ziebach County Auditor P.O. Box 68 Dupree, SD 57623-0068 Phone: (605) 365-5157 Fax: (605) 365-5204 Email: ziebachauditor@lakotanetwork.com |
