Let all voters vote!
Our ballot initiative will give South Dakota voters in 2024 a chance to change the state’s constitution to establish a top-two open primary for “the office of governor, a legislative office, a county office, the United States Senate, or the United States House of Representatives.” The legislature would have the ability to add other offices to the open primary in the future.
We believe South Dakota will be a better place when more South Dakotans are involved in the election process.
Eight reasons to support open primaries
All Registered Voters Should Be Able to Vote
With a top-two open primary, all candidates for an office run against each other in the June primary election, and all registered voters get to vote. Candidates have the option to show their party preference on the ballot. The two candidates who get the most votes move on to the general election in November.
Large Number of Voters Excluded
The number of independent or unaffiliated voters in the US has jumped with 45% now identifying themselves as independent. Independents often have little say in who will represent them. In South Dakota’s closed primary, over 148,000 registered voters cannot fully participate. That’s unfair and undemocratic.
Many States Have Open Primaries
About half the states have one form or another of open primaries. Three states have top-two open primaries.
Primary Elections Are Usually More Important than the General Election
Most legislative elections in South Dakota are decided in the primary. In 2022, 86% of legislative elections were uncontested or minimally contested in the general election. A disappointing 21 of 35 state senate seats were uncontested. There’s nothing competitive about that.
Public Funds Pay for Primary Elections
Primary elections are conducted with taxpayer money, even in closed primary states like South Dakota. Independents pay for elections they cannot vote in. That’s not fair.
South Dakota’s Conservative Values
South Dakota embraces conservative values like fairness and competition. We believe South Dakota will be a better place when more South Dakotans are involved in the election process, and all will benefit from competitive elections where successful candidates appeal to all voters.
Political Parties Promote Partisanship
Party run primaries tend to promote partisanship and reward party loyalty. They also result in low voter turnout. Political loyalists and the partisan folks who have messed up American politics tend to dislike open primaries.
Not a Partisan Issue
Open primaries is a non-partisan issue. History suggests that top-two open primaries do not change political leanings in a state. Red states stay red, and blue states blue. But most importantly, all voters get to vote.
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FAQ’s
Why Open Primaries?
Our South Dakota election system isn’t working. It is unfair, uncompetitive and encourages hyper partisanship. 150,000 independent South Dakotans have little to no voice in determining who will represent and govern them. Open primaries allow all voters to participate in the state’s elections.
Will this make us more/less of a red state?
The short answer is that it is unlikely to change our conservative state much. But it will motivate politicians to tailor their messages to broader groups of South Dakotans, and not just the partisan few who currently vote in the party controlled closed primaries. Our top two primary will involve more South Dakotans in the process of hiring the people to govern us.
Who is proposing open primaries for South Dakota?
Our grassroots election reform group is large, with representatives around the state. We have dozens of Republicans, Democrats, independents and others who passed petitions to get our top two proposal on the ballot.
How can I help?
Sign up for our email list to stay informed and consider giving us some financial support of whatever level you are comfortable with. If you are on social media, give us a like on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Tell your friends about our effort to make South Dakota’s primary elections more democratic and inclusive.
How does it work?
It’s quite simple. Instead of a Republican and Democrat primary in June, there will be one South Dakota primary. All candidates for an office will be listed together on the ballot, and they can indicate which party they are registered with. All voters will get that ballot and they will vote for their favorite candidate. The two candidates that get the most votes will advance to the November general election. The South Dakota Primary would cover the three congressional offices, the governor, and legislative and county offices.
Do other states use this system?
Most states have one form or another of open primaries. Only fifteen have a closed primary like ours. Nebraska has had an open primary for decades. Washington and California have a top two system similar to what we are proposing. In fact, Republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger brought it to California to temper the craziness in that state’s politics.
Open primaries seems like a great idea! So, who doesn’t like it?
Some party bosses on the left and the right worry it may weaken their hold on who gets elected in South Dakota. Maybe they’re right. Open primaries return political power to the voters in the state. All of them.