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The South Dakota Polling Project

Our Mission

The South Dakota Polling Project is a research unit of the political science program housed in The School of American and Global Studies at South Dakota State University. In the spirit of our land-grant mission, we utilize our expertise in political science to analyze issues that are important to South Dakotans from an objective, scientific and non-partisan perspective. Recently, we have been fielding several polls on the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on the lives and families of South Dakota. We also partner and collaborate with professors from fields outside of political science to explore research questions in a truly trans-disciplinary manner. Additionally, we give select students the opportunity to work side by side with faculty and develop the highly demanded skills of data collection, programming and statistical analysis.

Our Methodology

The South Dakota Polling Project utilizes a new and innovative technique of random sampling the electorate that matches the most sophisticated methods of conducting a survey to the most reliable means of citizen contact. This method can be employed at any level in the state: statewide, county, city, legislative district or any other geographical unit that a researcher wishes to cover. Our surveys can be fine-tuned depending upon the needs of the current research project. Respondents complete online surveys, which allows for the development of sophisticated questionnaires. The sample is then carefully weighted on known population parameters such as region, age and other demographics to make it as representative of the population as possible. Simply put, South Dakota Polling Project conducts some of the most comprehensive, sophisticated, detailed and accurate polling of the South Dakota electorate today. In addition to polls of the electorate, we have also conducted more specialized polls of specific groups such as agricultural producers and nurses using different random sampling methods.

Please contact David Wiltse if you have any questions about the poll you want answered, or if you wish to inquire about commissioning poll work on the South Dakota electorate.

The South Dakota Polling Project News

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A stacked bar chart shows that South Dakota voters are evenly divided on the question of abortion in the first trimester, but largely supportive of exceptions being made for cases of rape and/or incest and protection of the health of the mother.

South Dakota Polling Project weighs voters’ opinions on abortion access, recreational marijuana

Political scientists in the School of American and Global Studies at South Dakota State University have gathered opinions from the South Dakota electorate on abortion access and recreational marijuana.

South Dakota Polling Project offers presidential primary preview, weighs opinions on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Political scientists in the School of American and Global Studies at South Dakota State University have gathered opinions from the South Dakota electorate on Republican candidates for president and on independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The Political Fight Over Recreational Marijuana is Far from Over

The Spring 2023 Poll, conducted between March 18-27, 2023, is a survey of the South Dakota electorate by The South Dakota Polling Project – a non-partisan research group housed in the School of American and Global Studies at South Dakota State University. In this poll, 747 registered voters answered questions about political figures and policy questions of concern to South Dakota citizens.