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South Dakota signature requirements
 (By state) |
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Federal offices
U.S. Senate and U.S. House
Signature requirements for U.S. Senate and U.S. House candidates are 1% of the vote for the 2010 gubernatorial candidate of the party. Independent candidates require 1% of the total vote for Governor in 2010 and new political parties require 2.5% of the total vote for Governor in 2010.
Filing deadlines
2012
In 2012, the last day to circulate and file nomination petitions for candidates was March 27.
State offices
State legislature
Signature requirements vary with district and political party. Requirements for 2012 and 2014 can be found here.
Filing deadlines
2012
In 2012, the last day to circulate and file nomination petitions for candidates was March 27.
Ballot measures
Signature requirements
The number of signatures required in South Dakota is based on the number of votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial election. The most recent gubernatorial election in South Dakota was in 2010, when Dennis Daugaard (R) was re-elected. The next gubernatorial election is in November 2014. Since the number of votes cast was lower in 2010 than in 2006, the signature requirements for 2012 have been lowered.
These numbers apply to the next general election on November 6th, 2012: In South Dakota, signatures are tied to the number of votes cast for the office of governor in the state's most recent gubernatorial election. For statutes or veto referendums, signatures equal to 5% of this vote are required. For constitutional amendments, signatures equal to 10% are required.
| Year | Constitutional Amendment | Statute | Veto referendum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 31,708 | 15,854 | 15,854 |
| 2012 | 31,708 | 15,854 | 15,854 |
| 2010 | 33,551 | 16,776 | 16,776 |
| 2008 | 33,551 | 16,776 | 16,776 |
See law: South Dakota Constitution, Article III, Section 1 & Article III, Section 1
Basis for calculation
- A total of 317,083 votes were cast in the 2010 gubernatorial election.[1]
Recall requirements
- See also: Laws governing recall in South Dakota
Recall of local municipal elected officials is available in South Dakota, according to Sections 13(29) through 13(35) of Chapter 9 of South Dakota Codified Law (SDCL).
§9-13-30 says that in order to qualify a recall election for the ballot, "A petition signed by fifteen percent of the registered voters of the municipality [must be submitted], based upon the total number of registered voters at the last preceding general election."
Deadlines
Initiative language can be submitted at any time. The maximum allowable time for circulation is one year.
2012
- See also: Petition drive deadlines, 2012
For 2012, the deadline to submit signatures for initiated statutes was November 1, 2011 and for initiated constitutional amendments was November 7, 2011.[2]
2010
- See also: Petition drive deadlines, 2010
For 2010 initiated constitutional amendments, the deadline for submitting signatures was November 2, 2009. For 2010 initiated statutes, the deadline for submitting signatures was April 6, 2010.
See also
- States where signature requirements are based on votes cast for governor
- Laws governing the initiative process in South Dakota
External links
- Initiatives and Referendums from the South Dakota Secretary of State
- NCSL signature chart for 2008
- South Dakota signature requirements collated by the Citizens in Charge Foundation
