With midterm elections just around the corner, we thought it timely to dedicate a post to explaining how we became residents and registered voters in our new home state of South Dakota. This will also answer the oft-made questions: how do you get mail and do you even have an address?

South Dakota is one of a few key states that many full-timers call home (Texas and Florida being the others). Choosing South Dakota was a no-brainer for us. Our connection to the state started back in 2012 when we visited the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore on our first road trip. That trip and our time in the state made such an impact on our relationship that we decided to double down and get married there in 2017. On top of that, it made sense logistically since we were taking a northern route across the country to Seattle at the outset of our full-time journey.

South Dakota explicitly allows and facilitates full-time travelers to become residents and voters and has these great perks:

1. No state income tax
2. Relatively low vehicle registration fees
3. Relatively low cost of insurance
4. You only have to return to the state once every five years to renew your license (though we think it’s worth spending more time there!)    

As a lawyer, I consumed many articles and videos on how to establish residency as a remote traveler to make sure everything we did was above board. From my research and experience having completed the process, I will try to boil it all down into as straightforward a list as possible. The steps we took were as follows:

1. Mail Forwarding: Sign up for a mail forwarding service in the state.
   1. We chose DakotaPost, a well established business based in Sioux Falls, where we would also be able to take care of the other to-dos on this list. (Please mention that “Dan and Yi” referred you if you sign up!)
   2. In addition to completing and emailing the DakotaPost forms, you also need to complete and have notarized USPS Form 1583, and mail it to DakotaPost, 3916 N. Potsdam Ave., Sioux Falls, S.D. 57104.
   3. DakotaPost provides the Private Mail Box (PMB) address, receives our mail at their facility, and forwards it to us upon request wherever we choose. We elected the Virtual Mailbox option, so they scan the outside of each piece of mail and we can view through an online portal to request shredding of unwanted junk and request mail when we actually receive something we need.  
2. One Night Stay Requirement: Stay at least one night at a hotel/motel/RV park/campground in the state and keep the receipt showing your name(s), your new South Dakota PMB address, and the address where you stayed.
   1. We stayed at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park of Sioux Falls on a Thursday night and completed the residency process on Friday.  
3. Driver’s License: Obtain driver’s licenses at the Department of Public Safety (DPS) Driver’s License Station (similar to the DMV) with the required documentation.
   1. We used the following documents:
      1. Social security cards (original documents, no photocopies)
      2. U.S. passports (original documents, no photocopies)
      3. Completed Residency Affidavit (provided and completed at DPS)
      4. Receipt from #2 above as proof of one night stay within the last year
      5. One document, no more than one year old, proving your personal mailbox (PMB) service address (DakotaPost provided this document to us)
      6. Prior state licenses to surrender
   2. The DPS was actually pretty efficient, and we were in and out with our new South Dakota driver’s licenses (Mt. Rushmore watermark and all) in about an hour.
   3. You can also elect to register to vote on the DPS forms. We did this, but then had to call to correct our voter registration later. While your driver’s license will have your PMB forwarding address, your voter registration must use the physical address of the hotel/camp where you stayed. To avoid this issue, you can simply register to vote at the Minnehaha County Auditor’s office (more below).
   4. Sioux Falls DPS is located at 2501 W Russell St, Sioux Falls, SD 57104.
4. Vehicle Registration: Register vehicles and obtain plates at the Minnehaha County Treasurer’s Office with required documentation.
   1. The requirements differ depending on how long you have owned your vehicle. We had owned both our car and RV for more than six months, so we used:
      1. Title
      2. Completed Vehicle Registration form for each vehicle
      3. Documentation of Unloaded Vehicle Weight for the RV
         1. We called Winnebago Support at 1-800-537-1885, and they emailed us the documentation the same day (don’t forget to print this out).
      4. Tax Payment Verification (basically an affidavit stating how much tax you paid to the state where you purchased the vehicle)
      5. Payment in cash, credit (nominal fee), or cashier’s check/money order (no personal checks)
   2. For brand new vehicles and those owned less than 6 months, you also need other documents. DakotaPost provides a breakdown and relevant forms (note that we did not use all of these, and some forms may not apply to your situation).
   3. You will be provided with new plates and a receipt, and your new title will be mailed to you within six weeks.
   4. Minnehaha County Treasurer is located at 415 N Dakota Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104.
5. Voter Registration: Once you’ve obtained your SD driver’s license, simply fill out the Voter Registration Form and submit it to the County Auditor.
   1. Be sure to use the physical address of the hotel/camp where you stayed (not your PMB address).
   2. Minnehaha County Auditor is also located at 415 N Dakota Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104 (same address as the Treasurer).
6. VOTE!
   1. Assuming you are not going to be present in the state for an election, request an absentee ballot by mailing the Absentee Ballot Application along with a copy of your South Dakota driver’s license to the County Auditor.
   2. Visit the South Dakota Secretary of State’s official page for more information about voter registration and absentee voting.

There is so much that goes into transitioning to full-time travel life. I hope this post can help you get on your way! What are you waiting for?

Happy Trails,

Dan

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