South Dakota’s new SDVotes system—an upgrade to TotalVote—will not launch as planned this December.
The $4.5 million system is designed to automate voter registration forms and absentee ballot requests, speeding up processing. However, after recent training, county auditors agreed the rollout was too soon, especially in larger counties like Minnehaha with nearly 200 ballot styles.
Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson welcomes the delay to ensure the system works properly, Harding County Auditor Kathy Glines emphasized the importance of accurate voter lists for candidates beginning petition circulation in January. She and Secretary of State Monae Johnson both say they have full confidence in the system’s security.
The SDVotes system is now scheduled to launch in January 2027.
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