By South Dakota voters on Tuesday, Nov. 5 rejected an attempt to establish open primary elections in the state.
With 622 of 691 precincts reporting the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 6, the statewide vote on Amendment H was 243,777 (66%) no compared to 125,341 yes (34%).
In Brown County, the totals were 10,897 no and 5,615 yes.
Amendment H would have changed future primary elections for governor, state Legislature, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives and elected county offices. The candidates in each race, regardless of party, would have appeared on a single ballot. In most races, the top two vote-getters would have advanced to the general election. In races with two open seats, such as state House contests, the top four vote-getters would have advanced.
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South Dakota’s current primary elections are split by political party. Republicans only allow their own party members to vote in their primaries, while Democrats allow their own party members and independents. The winners of each party’s primary advance to the general election.
Supporters of Amendment H said the current system disenfranchises thousands of voters because many races in Republican-leaning South Dakota are decided in Republican primaries that exclude Democratic and independent voters.
“We are disappointed our proposal didn’t do better, but we are proud of our effort and our team,” said South Dakota Open Primaries Chairman Joe Kirby in an emailed statement. “We gave South Dakota voters an opportunity to address some fundamental deficiencies in the state’s government.”
Opponents of the amendment included the state Republican and Democratic parties. Some Republicans said it’s their right to choose their own political nominees, while some Democrats feared their candidates might rarely advance out of an open primary.
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Juliann Talkington, a coordinator for No on H, celebrated the group’s victory.
“We don’t like people coming in and trying to deceive us,” Talkington said, referring to significant out-of-state spending in support of the amendment. “We’re not going to be bought.”
Removing sales tax on items for ‘human consumption’ easily defeated
A measure that would have removed the state sales tax on items used for human consumption was easily defeated.
With 622 of 691 precincts reporting, the vote was 265,093 (70%) no to 114,023 (30%) yes. In Brown County, the totals were 11,907 no to 4,846 yes.
Initiated Measure 28 was pitched as removing the state sales tax in groceries in South Dakota. But concerns arose about the wording of the proposal, primarily that it could apply to much more than groceries.
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Opponents also worried that it would prevent cities from collecting sales tax on consumables.
“We said from the beginning this was poorly drafted and was going to have major unintended consequences,” said Nathan Sanderson, leader of the IM 28 opposition. “Voters understood that, and they rejected it.”
Voters reject recreational marijuana
South Dakota voters also rejected approving recreational marijuana. The idea — called Initiated Measure 29 on this year’s ballot — was approved by voters two years ago, but was overturned in court.
With 622 of 691 precincts reporting, the vote was 215,622 (56%) no and 167,117 (44%) yes.
In Brown County, the vote was 9,366 no to 7,617 yes.
State can impose work requirements for expanded Medicaid
Voters also decided to allow the state to impose work requirements for those receiving expanded Medicaid benefits.
With 622 of 691 precincts reporting, the vote stood at:
- Yes: 212,711 (56%)
- No: 164.702 (44%)
In Brown County the vote was 9,643 yes to 7,105 no against Constitutional Amendment F.
Pronoun references will remain unchanged
A pitch to allow for pronouns for certain people and office holders to be updated in the state constitution was also defeated.
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With 622 of 691 precincts reporting, the vote on Amendment E was 222,985 (58%) no to 158.623 yes (42%).
In Brown County, the totals were 9,726 no to 7,060 yes.
Now, all of the pronouns in the constitution refer to men.