top of page

South Dakotans like Ballot Initiatives

75%

Feel that Citizen ballot initiatives are an important part of the democratic process in South Dakota

65%

Don't want the South Dakota legislature should make it more difficult for citizen initiatives to get onto the ballot

83%

Believe that Democracy is always the most preferable form of government

Source: South Dakota News Watch. Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota Poll, April 2021. 

Vote 'NO' on HJR 5003

An attack on Citizens Ballot Initiatives

A 'Crackdown' on Democracy

South Dakota has a rich history of voters taking matters into their own hands when their state leaders fail to act. It is called the citizen ballot initiative and we have been doing it around here since 1898.

 

But in 2021 the South Dakota Legislature placed HJR 5003 on the June 2022 primary ballot. It is a constitutional amendment requiring 60% approval for citizen ballot initiatives like Medicaid expansion.

 

They tried to pass a similar measure in 2018, but South Dakotans said NO. We beat them then and we will beat them in 2022, with your help..

Grassroots Networks Win Initiatives

Grassroots networks are the central component of our strategy to defeat HJR 5003, build support for a 'NO' campaign, and establish a constituency that organize to prevent future anti-democratic power grabs. So be the change you want to see in this world. Make a donation to protect citizen ballot initiatives.

PBS News Hour

South Dakota passed Medicaid expansion. What’s next?

The vote to expand Medicaid “was long overdue” and “means so much to people who don’t have health insurance, and it means so much to our health care systems that are suffering,” said Rick Weiland, who co-founded the group Dakotans for Health and helped raise awareness of the successful ballot initiative. T

PBS News Hour

South Dakota passed Medicaid expansion. What’s next?

The vote to expand Medicaid “was long overdue” and “means so much to people who don’t have health insurance, and it means so much to our health care systems that are suffering,” said Rick Weiland, who co-founded the group Dakotans for Health and helped raise awareness of the successful ballot initiative. T

SDPR

In the Moment: Dakotans for Health co-founder talks Medicaid expansion and abortion rights ballot measures

Rick Weiland joins SDPR to discuss Medicaid expansion implementation...

In the News

Grassroots organizers came together to protect the minimum wage and kick the pay-day lenders out of our state. We'll beat HJR 5003 too.

Laney Striker

Grassroots Volunteer

bottom of page