The South Dakota Secretary of State office will be mailing absentee ballot applications to all South Dakota registered voters.  The applications will be mailed between April 17-24.  Voters are encouraged to complete their application as soon as possible to allow for delivery and processing time.  Fall River and Oglala Lakota voters should send their application to:

Fall River County Auditor
906 N River St
Hot Springs, SD 57747

State law requires that applications be notarized OR include a photocopy of an acceptable photo ID card.  Those without access to a photo copier can take a photo of their ID using their phone or camera and email the photo to [email protected]  or text the photo to 605-890-3020.  For additional questions contact the Auditor’s Office at [email protected] or 605-745-5130.

Applications for absentee ballots can also be found on the Secretary of State’s website.

Full Secretary of State Press Release

Due to the lock down of Oglala Lakota County the Slim Buttes Road (Fall River County Road 3S, Oglala Lakota County Road 8) will be locked at the Oglala Lakota County Border.  Residents of the road can contact Lynx Bettelyoun at 605-441-6261 for access information.

HOT SPRINGS, S.D. – Effective Monday, March 30^th, 2020, all Fall River County facilities will be closed to public visits.  This closure includes the Courthouse, Director of Equalization office, South Annex, Sheriff Office, Fall River County Jail, and Highway Department.  This closure will remain until lifted by the commissioners and will be reviewed at each commissioner meeting.  Information about closures will be posted to our website, fallriver.sdcounties.org, and our Facebook pages (Fall River County and Fall River Co Sheriff).

County employees will continue to work, and our services will be available via phone, email, mail, and online.  When face-to-face business is absolutely necessary appointments will be arranged.  It is our goal to continue business as usual while utilizing technology to limit in-person contact.

If you have business with a county office the first step is to call or email that office.  Employees will work with you to ensure that all your business can be completed.

Magistrate and Circuit Court: The courthouse will be accessible for scheduled court appearances.  Please access the courthouse from the front, ground floor door as usual.  Security will be held as usual with the addition of health checks as directed by the State Attorney General’s Office. If you have questions, please contact the Clerk of Courts at 605-745-5131

We apologize for any inconvenience created by this closure and appreciate the patience that everyone has shown in this time of uncertainty.

Contact for County Offices:

Auditor’s Office: (605) 745-5130 – [email protected]
(elections, voter registration, commissioner agenda, billing)

Clerk of Courts: (605) 745-5131 www.ujs.sd.gov (online payments)  [email protected]

Community Health Nurse: (605) 745-5135 – [email protected]

Director of Equalization (Assessor): (605) 745-5136 – [email protected]
(assessment value appeals, property tax reduction programs)

Dispatch (non-emergency): (605) 745-5155

Emergency Management: (605) 745-7562 – [email protected]

Extension Service: (605) 745-5133 – [email protected]

Geographical Information Systems: (605) 745-7584 – [email protected]
(Address assignment)

Highway Department: (605) 745-5137 – [email protected]

Register of Deeds: (605) 745-5139 – [email protected]
(marriage licenses, vital records: birth, marriage, death)

Sheriff’s Office: (605) 745-4444 – [email protected]

State’s Attorney: (605) 745-3866 –  [email protected]

Treasurer: (605) 745-5145 –  [email protected]
(License plates, payment of property tax, vehicle title transfers)

Veteran’s Officer: (605) 745-5146 – [email protected]

Weed & Pest Department: (605) 745-5047 – [email protected]

The FBI has issued a release on the increase in scammers attempting to use the COVID-19 crisis to steal your money and/or personal information.  The document link below lists the various schemes to be on the lookout for.

COVID19_FBI