Secretary of State’s Office issues statement on ballot measures circulating in South Dakota

South Dakota Secretary of State Monae L. Johnson would like to provide important information regarding the ballot measure petitions that are currently being circulated around the state.

There are eight statewide ballot measures for which petitions may be circulated:

1. “An amendment to the South Dakota Constitution establishing top-two primary elections.”
2. “An initiated amendment establishing a right to abortion in the State Constitution.”
3. “An initiated amendment prohibiting taxes on anything sold for human consumption.”
4. “An initiated measure prohibiting taxes on anything sold for human consumption.”
5. “An amendment to the South Dakota Constitution revising legislative term limits.”
6. “An amendment to the South Dakota Constitution prohibiting the legislature from amending or repealing ballot measures for seven years.”
7. “An initiated measure repealing South Dakota’s medical marijuana program.”
8. “An initiated measure legalizing the possession, use, and distribution of marijuana.”

More information on each of the above ballot measures as well as the one already on the general election ballot may be found on the Secretary of State’s website: https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/upcoming-elections/general-information/2024/2024-ballot-questions.aspx.

If you are interested in signing a ballot measure petition, there are a couple of things that you should keep in mind. First, you must be a registered voter in South Dakota for your signature to count. Second, make sure that you know which ballot question you are supporting before you sign a petition. It is extremely difficult to remove your signature if you accidentally sign the wrong petition.

If you are circulating a petition for a ballot measure, you are required to provide handouts that contain the title of the ballot measure, the Attorney General statement describing that ballot measure, contact information for that ballot measure’s sponsors, and whether petition circulators are paid or volunteers. If circulators are paid, then the handouts must include their rate of pay as well.

All ballot measure petitions must be submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office no later than 5:00pm (CT) on May 7, 2024.