Election 2020

South Dakota state and county election officials have spent months preparing to host a fair, accurate and safe election amid an ongoing deadly pandemic that has led to record numbers of early and absentee votes. Some auditors have employed ingenious methods to overcome challenges and provide an orderly electoral process that will culminate on Election Day on Nov. 3.

Despite the pandemic and frequent claims by President Donald Trump that the 2020 general election will be rife with fraud, South Dakota auditors and election officials say they are ready to hold a fair, accurate and timely election that will produce reliable results. Safeguards are in place to ensure accurate voting by mail; preparations are being made to process a record number of absentee ballots; and precautions are being taken to make in-person voting at polling sites as safe as possible.