How Open Are South Dakota Public Records?

The country is trying its best to create accountability in the government. States are also expected to show some level of transparency, so that anyone that wants to ensure that the government is working in its best interests is free to look up information as needed.

South Dakota public records, however, are some of the least transparent in the country. According to several independent organizations, South Dakota public records do not contain much of the crucial information for transparency, such as financial information related to the state. This can make it difficult for government watchdog groups and reporters to get access to the information they want.

Yet for most information, South Dakota public records are still more than acceptable. Information on people, businesses, and most of the government can still be found within South Dakota public records, despite these transparency issues. For the average person, the records that South Dakota releases are still more than they need, since the issue with what the state doesn't release lies almost entirely with documents and data that is only beneficial for those keeping tabs on what the government is doing. For everyone else, the information is still all there, and can be accessed at a moment's notice.