SD Secretary of State Amendment H Proponents’ Message:

Vote YES on Amendment H to make sure every South Dakota voter has a voice in who leads our state, taking power from party bosses and returning it to the voters.

Amendment H creates one “South Dakota Primary.” All candidates would be on a single. primary ballot, all voters would receive that ballot and the top two vote-getters would advance to the general election. Most importantly, all voters would get to vote!

Currently, 150,000 independent or unaffiliated voters in South Dakota are excluded from taxpayer-funded primary elections. Amendment H ensures that everyone has a meaningful voice in who leads our state by letting all voters vote in the primary elections.

Our closed primary system isn’t working anymore. Only 17% of South Dakota's voters participated in last June’s primary election, so it’s no surprise that politicians aren’t listening to voters: they are only accountable to powerful interests who dominate the primaries.

Amendment H would boost turnout and competitive elections, so politicians are more likely to act on items which have broad public support.

Bottom line: Amendment H would shift power from party bosses back to the voters. It would fix an unfair system that silences the voices of 150,000 South Dakota independent voters. It would increase voter participation in elections and make our system fairer. And it would rationalize our politics and ensure elected officials focus on what’s best for all South Dakotans.

Vote YES on Amendment H to let all voters vote!

Joe Kirby, Republican and Chairman of South Dakota Open Primaries

De Knudson, Republican and Former Sioux Falls City Councilor

Drey Samuelson, Former Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Tim Johnson