PRESS RELEASE: South Dakota Open Primaries Campaign Submits Initiative Petition for Final Review


For Immediate Release
April 11, 2023

Contact:
Drey Samuelson
Spokesman
South Dakota Open Primaries
Email: media@sdopenprimaries.org
Call or text: 605-223-1606
sdopenprimaries.org

South Dakota Open Primaries Campaign Submits Initiative Petition for Final Review

Pierre, SD – The sponsors of the proposed 2024 open primaries ballot initiative have submitted their petition to South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson for final review. Today’s filing is the last step in the state’s initiative approval process before the campaign can begin collecting the 35,000 signatures needed to qualify for next year’s ballot.

“We’re very excited to launch the signature drive and begin talking to voters across South Dakota about our 2024 open primaries ballot initiative,” said De Knudson, treasurer of South Dakota Open Primaries, the campaign backing the effort. “By adopting open primaries, we will ensure that all South Dakota voters, regardless of party affiliation, can fully voice their opinions in future elections.”

Knudson, who is also one of the three official sponsors of the initiative, hand delivered the required documentation, including the proposed petition and circulator handouts, to the South Dakota Secretary of State’s office at the State Capitol in Pierre.

“Our message is simple,” said Joe Kirby, chairman of South Dakota Open Primaries. “It’s time to let all voters vote.”

The proposed 2024 ballot initiative would amend the state constitution to establish open primary elections for Governor, Congress, the State Legislature, and county elective offices. In an open primary election, all candidates compete in a single primary open to all voters regardless of party affiliation.

Last November, the campaign took the first step toward ballot qualification by filing its proposed initiative text with the South Dakota Legislative Research Council. Since then, it has completed additional filings with the South Dakota Secretary of State and South Dakota Attorney General.

South Dakota Open Primaries will soon be announcing a start date for its statewide signature drive.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The proposed ballot initiative would establish an open primary election system for the following races: U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Governor, State Legislature, and county elective offices. In each race, all the candidates would compete in a single primary open to all South Dakota voters. The two candidates that receive the most votes would advance to the general election. The ballot would continue to indicate the party affiliation, or lack thereof, for each candidate.

For example, if six candidates ran for Governor – two Republicans, two Democrats, a Libertarian, and an independent – then they would compete in a single primary to decide who reaches the general election in November. The general election could feature a Republican and a Democrat, the two Republicans, a Republican and the independent, a Republican and the Libertarian, or any other combination of candidates chosen by voters in the primary.

In order to qualify for the November 2024 ballot, the initiative sponsors must collect valid signatures from 35,017 registered South Dakota voters and submit their petitions to the South Dakota Secretary of State by May 7, 2024.

More information is available on the campaign’s website: sdopenprimaries.org

The full text of the initiative can be viewed here: sdopenprimaries.org/initiative-text

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