South Dakota

State Redistricting Info South Dakota

South Dakota 2021 Districts

South Dakota 2021 Legislative District Map

Open map as PDF: Legislative (1 senator and 2 house members are elected from each legislative district)

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Overview of 2020 Redistricting

Following the 2020 census, South Dakota’s congressional redistricting process remained straightforward. The state continues to have only one at-large U.S. House district, making it one of several states exempt from redistricting. As a result, no changes were made to the congressional district boundaries, and no legislative or commission action was required.

The state legislative redistricting process, by contrast, involved significant activity. The South Dakota Legislature, which is responsible for drawing its own legislative maps, held a special session in November 2021 to enact new state House and Senate districts based on the 2020 census data. After a series of public hearings and internal negotiations between chambers, lawmakers approved a compromise map known as “Sparrow” on November 10, 2021. The map addressed population growth in areas like Rapid City and Sioux Falls while maintaining districts favorable to rural communities. Governor Kristi Noem signed the plan the same day, and the map was implemented for the 2022 legislative elections. No legal challenges were filed against the enacted legislative maps.

last updated: 2026

2020 Timeline: Congressional Map

April 26 2021	The U.S. Census Bureau delivers 2020 apportionment results, confirming that South Dakota will retain its single at-large seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Because only one congressional district covers the entire state, no redistricting commission or legislative action is required to redraw congressional district boundaries.
Nov. 8–10 2021	The South Dakota Legislature convenes a special session on redistricting, but does not take up any congressional map. Because the state continues to have a lone at-large House district, the existing congressional district remains unchanged (no new map is drawn by the legislature or any commission).

2020 Timeline: Legislative Map

Aug 12 2021	The U.S. Census Bureau releases detailed 2020 population data to the states (in “legacy” format), providing the necessary figures for state legislative redistricting. South Dakota’s legislative redistricting committees prepare to begin the map-drawing process once this data is loaded into their software.
Aug 30 2021	The South Dakota House and Senate interim redistricting committees hold their first meeting in Pierre to review the new census data. At this meeting, the joint committee also votes 10-3 to restrict public use of the legislature’s map-drawing software to prevent an unmanageable influx of unofficial proposals.
Sept 9 2021	Lawmakers meet to consider initial draft maps, with a focus on high-growth areas. In a joint hearing, the committees advance a proposed district plan for the Rapid City area but delay a decision on the Sioux Falls metro area map to gather additional public feedback.
Sept 30 2021	A special redistricting subcommittee holds a public meeting in Sioux Falls to collect community input on how to redraw legislative districts in the greater Sioux Falls area. This session aims to address concerns and suggestions before finalizing the map for the state’s largest urban region.
Oct 25 2021	In their final meeting before the special session, South Dakota’s legislative redistricting committees approve the last version of draft maps to present to the full Legislature. At this stage, the House and Senate committees still back different plans (nicknamed “Grouse” for the House map and “Blackbird” for the Senate map), setting the stage for a compromise to be negotiated in the upcoming special session.
Nov 8 2021	The Legislature convenes in a special session dedicated to redistricting. The state House passes its preferred map (“Grouse 2.0”) on a 48–20 vote, while the state Senate approves its own map (“Blackbird 2.0”) 20–15. Each chamber then rejects the other chamber’s plan, resulting in a stalemate and prompting a conference committee (three members from each chamber) to seek a compromise. Lawmakers face a Dec. 1 constitutional deadline, after which the South Dakota Supreme Court would assume responsibility for drawing the legislative districts if no plan is enacted.
Nov 10 2021	After extended negotiations, legislators reached a deal on a compromise map known as the “Sparrow” map. The plan is designed by the legislature’s conference committee and balances the House and Senate proposals (especially resolving differences around Native American reservations and the Rapid City area). Both chambers approve the Sparrow map – the House by 37–31 and the Senate by 30–2 – during the special session. Governor Kristi Noem signs the new legislative districts into law within hours of passage, ensuring the map will govern the 2022 legislative elections. No legal challenges are filed against the Sparrow map in the aftermath of its enactment.