Press Release: “Protect Our Initiatives Coalition” Unites to Defend South Dakota’s Initiative Process Against Legislative Overreach

For Immediate Release
February 18, 2025

Contact:
Matthew Schweich
Voter Defense Association of South Dakota
(605) 610-8396
info@vdasd.org

“Protect Our Initiatives Coalition” Unites to Defend South Dakota’s Initiative Process Against Legislative Overreach

Ten South Dakota organizations are now working together to defeat five bills – HJR 5003, HJR 5004, HJR 5006, SJR 504, and HB 1169 – that would adversely impact the state’s ballot initiative process

Pierre, SD – The ‘“Protect Our Initiatives Coalition” that launched last month to defend South Dakota’s ballot initiative process from legislative attacks announced today that its size has increased to ten organizations and its scope has expanded to defeating five bills currently being considered by state lawmakers.

“Our coalition is working to defeat legislative proposals that would seriously undermine the ballot initiative process and take power away from the people,” said Amy Scott-Stolz of the League of Women Voters of South Dakota.

“As we rise together in opposition to these bills, the coalition is coordinating legislative strategy in Pierre and encouraging supporters of our respective organizations to contact their state legislators,” said Matthew Schweich, chairman of the Voter Defense Association of South Dakota.

"The sponsors of these bills attacking our initiative process say they are trying to stop out-of-state money from flooding our elections, but DRA doesn't buy that the solution should be a systemic attack on the initiated process itself,” said Chase Jensen, senior organizer for Dakota Rural Action.

The following South Dakota organizations are members of the “Protect Our Initiatives Coalition”:

• Voter Defense Association of South Dakota;

• League of Women Voters of South Dakota;

• Change Agents of SD;

• South Dakota Farmers Union;

• Dakota Rural Action;

• ACLU South Dakota;

• Liberty and Justice For All; 

• Equality South Dakota;

• South Dakota Alliance for Healthcare Rights; and

• Take it Back

The coalition is united in opposition to the following legislation:

• House Joint Resolution 5003, which proposes amending the state constitution to require a 60% supermajority for passing future constitutional amendments; 

• House Joint Resolution 5004, which proposes amending the state constitution to increase the number of petition signatures required for ballot qualification by 50% for initiated amendments and by 100% for initiated measures;

• House Joint Resolution 5006, which proposes amending the state constitution to prohibit future ballot initiatives when a “substantially similar” initiative has failed at the most recent general election;

• Senate Joint Resolution 504, which proposes amending the state constitution to require that petition signatures for initiated amendments be distributed across state senatorial districts; and

• House Bill 1169, which would amend state law to require that petition signatures for initiated amendments be distributed across state senatorial districts.

[END]