A South Dakota couple says they were wrongly limited in how they could vote after being issued federal-only ballots during early voting in Minnehaha County.
Steve Nolte and Kelly Stewart, who split their time between South Dakota and Arizona, say they were denied the ability to vote in state and local races when they went to vote in person last week in Sioux Falls.
The couple uses a mail-forwarding address and has been registered in Minnehaha County since 2023. Under a new state law that took effect in January, voters who list only a post office box or mail service without a physical residence description are classified as federal-only voters—meaning they can vote only in national races.
Nolte and Stewart say poll workers did not explain the requirement to provide a description of where they live, which could have allowed them to vote a full ballot. Instead, they were given ballots with only two races—the U.S. Senate and House primaries.
County Auditor Leah Anderson says voters in that situation should provide a habitation description on their ballot envelope. The couple says they were not instructed to do so.
The situation highlights confusion surrounding the new law. State officials and local auditors have given differing guidance, and more than 1,500 voters statewide have reportedly been reclassified as federal-only without realizing it.
Lawmakers say clearer communication is needed before future elections, as questions remain about how residency rules apply—especially for full-time travelers and RV residents.
The couple says they plan to update their registration before the November election.
