Notice of Election

The 2026 Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, utilizing Vote Centers in Hughes County.  The Election polls will be open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM central standard time the day of the election.  Registered voters in Hughes County may vote at any vote center for the 2026 Primary Election. 

Five Vote Centers will be open for Hughes County voters for the 2026 Primary Election-

·Vote Center #1 Faith Lutheran Church- 714 N Grand Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501

·Vote Center #2 New Life Assembly of God Church- 1120 N Harrison Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501

·Vote Center #3 Capitol Lake Visitors Center- 650 E Capitol Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501

·Vote Center #5 Harrold City Auditorium- 202 S Nixon Avenue, Harrold SD, 57536

·Vote Center #6 Blunt City Hall- 202 W Butte Avenue, Blunt, SD 57522

Important Date Reminders For the 2026 Primary Election-

Absentee Voting- Begins April 17, 2026

Voter Registration Deadline- May 18, 2026

Election Date- June 2, 2026

You must be registered to vote 15 days prior to an Election. May 18, 2026 for the Primary Election. 

An individual must meet the following criteria to register to vote;

• Be a United States citizen.
• Live in South Dakota for at least 30 days prior to submitting a registration form. 
• Be 18 years old on or before the next election. 
• Not currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction which included imprisonment, served or suspended, in an adult penitentiary system.
• Not be judged mentally incompetent by a court of law

Complete a voter registration form HERE.

Voter Cancellation- If you need to cancel your voter registration due to relocation. Please complete this FORM. A family member may also use this form along with an obituary in the event of a death to cancel a voter registration. 

Uniformed Military & Overseas Citizens-

If you are an overseas citizen voter and want to register to vote, please complete a voter registration form, HERE, and return your application to the Hughes County Auditor at 104 E Capitol Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501. 

If you have a current, valid South Dakota Driver’s License you may use our new Uniformed & Overseas Citizens Electronic Voter Registration Portal to register to vote. 

Any registered voter may vote by absentee ballot until 5:00 pm on the day prior to the election.

Voters do not need to provide a reason in order to absentee vote. All voters will be required to show appropriate identification or complete a Personal Identification Affidavit to vote in person or absentee.

• In Person
• By Mail
• By Messenger

Military & Overseas Citizens may submit an absentee ballot application through the Uniformed & Overseas Citizens Electronic Voter Registration Portal. 

If you will be out of the country and wish to vote, the Federal Voting Assistance Program will guide you through the process at www.fvap.gov. 

Location: The Hughes County Auditors Office located on the second floor of the Hughes County Courthouse at 104 E Capitol Ave. Pierre, SD. 

To cast an Absentee Ballot in person, a voter must:

• Complete the combined Absentee Ballot Application/Return Envelope
• Present valid identification
• A South Dakota driver's license or non-driver identification card; or a passport or an identification card, including a picture issued by an agency of the United States government; or 
• A tribal identification card, including a picture; or
• A current student identification card, including a picture issued by a high school or accredited institution of higher education, including a university, college, or technical school located within the State of South Dakota. 

If a voter is not able to present a form of personal identification as required by SDCL 12-18-6.1, the voter may complete a Personal ID Affidavit.

To receive an absentee ballot by mail a voter must file an Absentee Ballot Application with the Auditors Office no later than the Monday prior to the election SDCL 12-19-5. The application cannot be submitted by fax or email. The application must include a copy of the voters personal identification (Driver's License, SD Non-Driver ID Card, Passport or other ID issued by the United States Government, a Tribal Photo ID, or a current Student Photo ID issued by a South Dakota high school or post secondary education institution), or the voter's signature can be notarized or witnessed by an official who can administer an oath.

The completed ballot can be returned or mailed to the Hughes County Auditors Office.

Hughes County Auditor
104 E Capitol Ave. 
Pierre, SD 57501

For additional information, go to www.sdsos.gov