Primary Rules
How South Dakota's Primary Works
South Dakota uses a Closed Primary system
Closed Primary
Only voters registered with a political party can vote in that party's primary election. Independent and unaffiliated voters are excluded.
Voter file data: L2 Data · Registration counts: South Dakota Secretary of State · Updated May 20, 2026
South Dakota Voter Registration
& Party Affiliation Statistics
Total Registered
601,756
Largest Party
Republican (51.17%)
Independent / NPP
26.23%
Primary Type
Closed Primary
At a Glance
South Dakota at a Glance
Key voter registration statistics · Updated 2026
Registered Voters
601,756
across 66 counties
Independent / NPP
26.23%
of registered voters
2024 Turnout
64.5%
of eligible voters
Registration
Voter Registration by Party
How many registered Democrats, Republicans, and Independents are in South Dakota?
Democratic22.61%
Republican51.17%
Independent/Other26.23%
| Party | Registered Voters | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
Democratic | 136,031 | 22.61% |
Republican | 307,900 | 51.17% |
Independent/Other | 157,825 | 26.23% |
Turnout
Voter Turnout in South Dakota
How many eligible South Dakota residents actually vote?
Recent Elections
| Election | Turnout | Voted |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 General | 64.5% | 436,478 |
| 2022 General | 53.2% | 354,670 |
| 2020 General | 65.6% | 427,529 |
| 2024 Presidential Primary | 3% | 17,931 |
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