At any time prior to an election, a voter may apply for an absentee ballot in person at the office of and to the person in charge of the election during regular office hours or until five p.m. on the day before the election, whichever is later. If the voter applies in person, the voter must complete a combined absentee ballot application/return envelope and show the person in charge of the election the voter's identification card as required in § 12-18-6.1 or complete the affidavit as provided in § 12-18-6.2.
In the event of confinement because of sickness or disability, a qualified voter may apply in writing pursuant to the provisions of § 12-19-2 and obtain an absentee ballot by authorized messenger designated over the signature of the voter. The person in charge of the election shall provide the ballot to be delivered to the qualified voter to the authorized messenger. An application to have a ballot delivered by authorized messenger must be received by the person in charge of the election before three p.m. on the day of the election. If the application designating an authorized messenger also indicates a request for an absentee ballot for any future election, the absentee ballot must be mailed to the address provided on the application. If no address is provided, the ballot must be mailed to the person's voter registration address.
SDCL 12-19-2.1