Press Release: Coalition Forms to Defeat Legislative Proposal to Radically Change Ballot Initiative Process

For Immediate Release
January 28, 2025

Contact:
Quincy Hanzen
Vice President
Voter Defense Association of South Dakota
(605) 595-7007
info@vdasd.org

Coalition Forms to Defeat Legislative Proposal to Radically Change Ballot Initiative Process

The coalition is opposing HJR 5003, a proposal under consideration in Pierre that would require future constitutional amendments to receive 60% support from voters in order to pass

Pierre, SD – The Voter Defense Association of South Dakota today announced the formation of a coalition of eight organizations that are working to defeat a legislative proposal that would severely restrict future constitutional amendments.

“HJR 5003 is a radical attempt to undermine the constitutionally-enshrined ballot initiative rights of South Dakota voters,” said Quincy Hanzen, Vice President of the Voter Defense Association of South Dakota. “Our coalition is united in the belief that the threshold for passage of any constitutional amendment should remain at 50%.”

The coalition is comprised of the following organizations:

• Voter Defense Association of South Dakota;

• League of Women Voters of South Dakota;

• Democracy in Action;

• Change Agents of SD;

• Farmer’s Union;

• Dakota Rural Action;

• ACLU South Dakota; and

• Liberty and Justice For All

If passed by the South Dakota Legislature, House Joint Resolution 5003 would place a question on the November 2026 ballot asking voters to increase the threshold for passing future constitutional amendments, whether proposed by the legislature or initiative petition, from 50% to 60%. HJR 5003 passed the South Dakota House on Wednesday, January 23 and now heads to the South Dakota Senate State Affairs Committee.

“South Dakota’s first-in-the-nation ballot initiative process is a proud tradition in our state but nonetheless remains the target of constant attacks by politicians,” said Amy Scott-Stoltz of the League of Women Voters of South Dakota. “The 60% supermajority requirement proposed by HJR 5003 would unjustifiably restrict the ability of South Dakotans to utilize the ballot initiative process to amend our state constitution.

Of the 24 states that have a ballot initiative process, only one – Florida – requires 60% support for all constitutional amendments.

“The goal in forming this coalition is to coordinate efforts in Pierre and across the state as we work to convince the South Dakota Senate to reject this misguided proposal,” added Hanzen. “We will emphasize the fact that South Dakotans have repeatedly expressed their support for simple majority rule on constitutional amendments.”

In 2018, Amendment X, which proposed a 55% supermajority requirement, failed with 46% of the vote. In 2022, Amendment C, which proposed a 60% supermajority requirement for any ballot question creating a tax or fee or requiring the state to appropriate $10 million or more in any of the first five fiscal years after enactment, failed with only 33% of the vote.

The coalition is also closely monitoring other legislation that would affect South Dakota’s ballot initiative process and will be active throughout the 2025 legislative session in Pierre.

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