An Amendment to the South Dakota Constitution Requiring that a Proposed Constitutional Amendment or Revision Receive an Affirmative Vote of Sixty Percent of the Votes Cast.
Pro/con statements extracted by cropping the two pamphlet columns; attribution = final signature line of each statement.
No official fiscal note for legislatively referred amendments in the pamphlet.
Title: An Amendment to the South Dakota Constitution Requiring that a Proposed Constitutional Amendment or Revision Receive an Affirmative Vote of Sixty Percent of the Votes Cast. Attorney General Explanation: The State Constitution provides that any proposed constitutional amendment or revision must be submitted to the voters for approval. Currently, a proposed constitutional amendment or revision becomes part of the Constitution if approved by a majority of the votes cast. This proposed Constitutional Amendment increases the number of votes required for a proposed constitutional amendment or revision to become part of the Constitution. If passed, further constitutional amendments must receive an affirmative vote of sixty percent of the votes cast to be implemented.
Vote “Yes” to adopt the amendment.
Vote “No” to leave the Constitution as it is.
The State Constitution provides that any proposed constitutional amendment or revision must be submitted to the voters for approval. Currently, a proposed constitutional amendment or revision becomes part of the Constitution if approved by a majority of the votes cast. This proposed Constitutional Amendment increases the number of votes required for a proposed constitutional amendment or revision to become part of the Constitution. If passed, further constitutional amendments must receive an affirmative vote of sixty percent of the votes cast to be implemented.
Not published by the state
We encourage you to VOTE YES on AMENDMENT L to Protect Our Constitution. In recent years, political activists have tried to change South Dakota’s Constitution by inserting policy changes into our state’s founding document. Currently, South Dakota’s Constitution can be changed by a simple majority of votes cast. Amendment L raises that threshold to sixty percent. By contrast, the U.S. Constitution is much harder to amend. Changes to the U.S. Constitution require a 2/3 vote of the U.S. House and Senate, followed by ratification of 3/4 of the states. Our state Constitution provides a framework of governance, while laws passed by the Legislature or by voter initiative outline policy within the framework. A simple majority works well for ordinary laws, but a higher threshold is needed for changing our Constitution, which is meant to protect core rights. With Amendment L, only changes with broad, strong support from South Dakotans become part of our framework of governance. This doesn’t mean we can’t make changes; it simply means that our foundational document should not be subject to the political whims of a given election cycle. Let’s keep our Constitution secure for future generations. VOTE YES on AMENDMENT L.
John Hughes, State Representative Dale Bartscher, South Dakota Right to Life Nathan Sanderson, South Dakota Retailers
At its core, Amendment L seeks to establish minority rule in South Dakota. It removes important checks and balances, making it easier for insiders in Pierre to make backroom deals and listen to out-of-state donors instead of the people who live here. Voters have already rejected this idea twice in recent years. In 2018, they defeated Amendment X, which proposed a 55% threshold. In 2022, they overwhelmingly rejected Amendment C, which would have required 60% approval for constitutional amendments with fiscal impacts. Amendment L goes even further by applying the 60% requirement to every future constitutional amendment. At some point, supporters of these proposals need to just listen to voters as they have spoken. South Dakota was the first state to give citizens the power to propose and vote on laws directly. That tradition exists so ordinary people, not just politicians or powerful interests, can shape their government when needed. That power has been an important part of our political tradition for decades. Within that power lies a simple principle: the majority decides. If Amendment L passes, a small minority could block our state from holding politicians accountable. Our state motto says, "Under God, the People Rule." Amendment L would make it much harder for the people to have their say, even when a clear majority agrees. Protect majority rule. Don’t give away your power. Vote NO on Amendment L.
Chase Jensen, Dakota Rural Action Ryan Rolfs, South Dakota Education Association
Both columns use the same layout. Text is quoted from the official state guide. Views expressed belong to the argument authors.