Open primaries measure approved for the ballot

Joe Kirby, head of South Dakota Open Primaries, signs a petition on April 19, 2023, in Sioux Falls that aims to allow all voters to cast a vote in the state's primary elections. Kirby is seated next to De Knudson of Sioux Falls, with Tom Dempster of Sioux Falls standing to her left. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight)

A petition that would establish open primary elections in South Dakota has enough signatures from registered voters to be placed on the Nov. 5 ballot, according to the South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office.

The office made the announcement Tuesday, triggering a 30-day window for challenges to the petition’s validity.

It’s the third citizen-initiated measure to be validated for the Nov. 5 election, pending potential challenges. Additionally, the Legislature has exercised its authority to place two measures on the ballot, and at least two more measures from citizen groups are either pending validation or still circulating.

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The open primaries measure would alter future elections in South Dakota.

Currently, the state has traditional primary elections, in which Democrats and Republicans choose their nominees for the general election.

In an open primary, all candidates for an elected office would run in one primary race, regardless of their party affiliation, and the top two winners would advance. The candidates advancing to the general election could be from different parties or the same party.

The open primaries measure applies to races for governor, the Legislature, U.S. Senate, U.S. House and elected county offices.

Supporters of the measure say the current system disenfranchises some voters, because Republicans only allow members of their own party to vote in Republican primary races. When there’s no Democratic or independent candidate for an office, the winner is determined in a Republican primary that excludes Democratic and independent voters.

Opponents of the measure say political parties should be allowed to choose their own nominees.

Ballot question status update

Measures placed on the Nov. 5 ballot by the Legislature:

• An amendment to the state constitution updating references to certain officeholders and people (replacing male-specific pronouns with neutral language).
• An amendment to the state constitution authorizing the state to impose work requirements on certain people who are eligible for expanded Medicaid.

Citizen-proposed measures validated for the ballot, pending potential challenges:

• An initiated measure prohibiting state sales taxes on items sold for human consumption, specifically targeting state sales taxes on groceries.
• An initiated amendment to the state constitution re-establishing abortion rights.
• An initiated amendment to the state constitution establishing open primary elections.

Citizen-proposed measure pending validation of the required number of petition signatures:

• An initiated measure legalizing adult recreational use, possession and distribution of marijuana.

Petition still in circulation:

• A proposed referendum of a new law regulating carbon dioxide pipelines (the deadline to submit referendum petitions is June 25).

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