Hermosa, South Dakota Public Records

South Dakota residents can register to vote online through the Secretary of State's portal at sdsos.gov/elections-voting. Applicants need their South Dakota driver's license or ID card number, date of birth, and the last four digits of their Social Security number. Registration must be completed 15 days before any election. The state also offers same-day registration at the polls on Election Day, requiring proof of residence such as a utility bill, bank statement, or government document showing the voter's name and current address. Eligible voters must be U.S. Citizens, at least 18 years old by the election date, and South Dakota residents. As an incorporated town, Hermosa holds municipal elections for mayor and town board members. These elections typically occur in April of odd-numbered years, with the next scheduled for April 2025. Candidates file nominating petitions with the Town Finance Officer at least 30 days before the election. Local ballot measures, when they appear, are published in advance and posted at the Town Office. Turnout for municipal elections generally ranges from 20-40% of registered town voters. Residents can locate their assigned polling place using the lookup tool at sdsos.gov/elections-voting/polling-place-information or by contacting the County Auditor. Hermosa voters typically cast ballots at the Hermosa Community Center or Hermosa School, depending on precinct boundaries. Polls are open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM Mountain Time on Election Day. South Dakota's public election records include voter registration lists, campaign finance reports, candidate filings, and election results. Voter registration information, excluding Social Security numbers and driver's license numbers, is public and available through the Custer County Auditor. Campaign finance reports for state and county candidates are filed with the Secretary of State and posted at sdsos.gov/campaign-finance. Precinct-level results are published by the county after certification and archived on the Secretary of State's website. In the November 2024 general election, Custer County reported approximately 72% voter turnout, with roughly 6,800 ballots cast out of approximately 9,400 registered voters. The county strongly supported Republican candidates in federal and state races, consistent with regional voting patterns. The November 3, 2026 general election will feature several important races for Hermosa and Custer County voters. South Dakota will elect a U.S. Senator, as the Class II Senate seat currently held by Senator Mike Rounds will be on the ballot, pending his decision to seek re-election. All U.S. House seats, including South Dakota's at-large congressional district, will be contested. State-level races will include the Governor's office if the four-year term is expiring in 2026, state legislative seats for District 30, which includes Hermosa, and various statewide constitutional offices. The county will elect county commissioners for certain districts, the Sheriff, Auditor, Register of Deeds, State's Attorney, and other county officers on four-year cycles. Hermosa will not have municipal elections in 2026 as those occur in odd-numbered years. South Dakota voters can request absentee ballots through the Custer County Auditor's office beginning 46 days before any election. Applications can be submitted online, by mail, or in person. Absentee ballots can be returned by mail, postmarked by Election Day and received within four business days, delivered in person to the auditor's office, or cast at in-person absentee voting locations during the two weeks before Election Day. No excuse is required to vote absentee in South Dakota; any registered voter may request an absentee ballot for any reason.