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.
Senate wants 60% voter threshold for some ballot initiatives (Medicaid expansion)
The South Dakota Senate on Tuesday paved the way for primary election...
Senate wants 60% voter threshold for some ballot initiatives because of Medicaid expansion
Schoenbeck acknowledged that his expedited push was motivated by the Medicaid expansion campaign...
Schoenbeck Moves 60% Initiative-Threshold Vote Back to June Primary
House Joint Resolution 5003, Representative Jon Hansen’s (R-25/Dell Rapids) nefarious effort to erode our initiative power by imposing a 60% vote threshold on any initiative that taxes or spends, took one tiny, reasonable step back in House State Affairs last month, where members moved Hansen’s proposed public vote date from the Republican-dominated June 2022 primary to the November 2022 general election.
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