The decision in Reclaim Idaho v. Denney (2021) is the closest precedent that would apply if South Dakota’s HB 1169 were challenged in court, and we feel that South Dakota is likely to lose that litigation. South Dakota taxpayers should not pay the costs for their legislators’ power grab.

SB 91 was introduced to strengthen South Dakota’s ballot initiative process by increasing uniformity across petitions for initiated amendments to the Constitution and initiated measures. However, SB 91D, as amended by Speaker Hansen, adds a new policy change to the legislation. It shifts the deadline for submitting initiative petition signatures from May to February – this is the same change made by House Bill 1184 (sponsored by Hansen), which the VDA opposes for a number of reasons…

"No-excuse absentee voting is the law in South Dakota, and, in theory, the process is relatively easy. A registered voter can apply for a mail ballot or show up at their county auditor’s office to cast their vote. In practice, however, in-person absentee voting can be difficult in South Dakota."

South Dakota’s voter registration rate – 82.5% of eligible voters are registered – is below the national average and ranks thirty-eighth out of the 51 states and Washington DC. How can our system improve?

County-level initiatives to mandate counting ballots by hand were defeated during the 2024 June primary election in three SD Counties. What does that mean for South Dakota elections?

The voters have not spoken on Referred Law 21 yet, but the referendum has already shaken South Dakota politics. Carbon pipeline policy will likely continue to shape the state’s politics after the 2024 election.

“Almost two months ago, Governor Noem signed House Bill 1244 into law. The bill instituted a legal regime allowing South Dakotans who had signed an initiative petition to remove their signature from that petition. The VDA opposed the bill as bad policy...”

“In recent years, the South Dakota Legislature has unfortunately made a habit of passing legislation designed to curtail South Dakotans’ constitutional ballot initiative rights.”

“On September 7, 2023, a petition filed to repeal South Dakota’s medical cannabis law was approved by the South Dakota Secretary of State. The initiative titled, “An Initiated Measure Repealing South Dakota’s Medical Marijuana Program,” clearly violated South Dakota statute.”