SIOUX FALLS, S.D.(South Dakota Searchlight) — A constitutional amendment that South Dakota voters will consider in next year’s general election will strengthen rather than weaken the influence of out-of-state organizations in state politics, opponents of the amendment said Thursday.
Lawmakers approved a resolution this winter asking voters to increase the threshold for approving a constitutional amendment ballot measure from a simple majority to 60%. The question will be posed as Constitutional Amendment L.
Opponents launched a “No on L” campaign Thursday. Matthew Schweich, president of the Voter Defense Association, said the amendment would ensure the “tyranny of the minority” in the state.
Sioux Falls Republican Rep. John Hughes introduced the resolution. He told South Dakota Searchlight that the amendment would protect the state’s constitution from being amended by outside interests and prevent policy from being inserted into a document that’s intended only to stipulate the structure and powers of the government.
“Political issues shouldn’t be injected into the constitution,” Hughes said, adding “we’ve discovered it’s problematic and should be made more difficult.”
Amendment L wouldn’t change campaign finance laws to directly address out-of-state influence, Schweich said Thursday. Instead, he said, the amendment would make it more difficult for grassroots movements to succeed.
“If Amendment L takes effect and constitutional amendments require 60%, the only people who will be able to attempt them are big money, out-of-state groups, because they will have the resources to run all of the ads necessary to hit 60%,” Schweich said.
Similar measures in 2018 and 2022 proposing to increase the voter threshold for constitutional amendments failed at the ballot box.
Supporters of the resolution during the legislative session included representatives with the National Rifle Association, South Dakota Right to Life, Protecting South Dakota Kids, South Dakota Retailers Association and South Dakota Family Voice Action.
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