South Dakota decided on 366 measures since 1889
Between 1889 and 2024, South Dakota voters voted on 366 state ballot measures. Of those, 160 were approved and 206 were defeated.
The South Dakota State Legislature voted to refer 233 measures to the state ballot, while 131 citizen initiatives were on the ballot. Legislatively referred measures were approved 50.6% of the time, compared to 30.5% for ballot initiatives.
The inventory of South Dakota statewide ballot measures is part of Ballotpedia's Historical Ballot Measure Factbook, which will document nearly 200 years of direct democracy in the United States. This ongoing research effort will provide an unparalleled resource for researchers, reporters, and the voting public on how ballot measures have evolved, the issues they've covered, and the role they have played in our civic life.
Explore the topics below for detailed information:
This section provides a table to search South Dakota historical ballot measures by decade and keyword.
This section summarizes notable topics South Dakotans have decided on.
This section highlights measures with the closest and widest margins, as well as the breakdown by topic, decade, and type.
This section describes the process of placing a statewide measure on the ballot.
Historic Ballot Measure Lookup Tool
| Year | Type | Title | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | LRCA | Constitutional Amendment I | Condition Medicaid expansion on federal funding remaining at least 90% | On the ballot |
| 2026 | LRCA | Constitutional Amendment J | Provide that "[an] individual who is not a citizen of the United States is disqualified from voting in any election or upon any question submitted to the voters" | On the ballot |
| 2026 | LRCA | Constitutional Amendment K | Establish an unclaimed property trust fund | On the ballot |
| 2026 | LRCA | Constitutional Amendment L | Require a 60% majority by voters to approve constitutional amendments | On the ballot |
| 2024 | LRCA | Constitutional Amendment E | Amend the constitution to change male pronouns in the Constitution to gender-neutral terms or titles | Defeated |
| 2024 | LRCA | Constitutional Amendment F | Amend the South Dakota Constitution to provide that the state "may impose a work requirement on any person ... who has not been diagnosed as being physically or mentally disabled" for eligible individuals to receive Medicaid under the Medicaid expansion that took effect on July 1, 2023 | Approved |
| 2024 | CICA | Constitutional Amendment G | Provide for a state constitutional right to abortion with a trimester framework for regulations | Defeated |
| 2024 | CICA | Constitutional Amendment H | Establish top-two primaries for federal, state, and certain local offices in South Dakota | Defeated |
| 2024 | CISS | Initiated Measure 28 | Prohibit state sales taxes on anything sold for human consumption, not including alcoholic beverages or prepared food | Defeated |
| 2024 | CISS | Initiated Measure 29 | Legalize the recreational or personal use of marijuana | Defeated |
| 2024 | VR | Referred Law 21 | Uphold Senate Bill 201, which would provide requirements for regulating carbon dioxide pipelines and other transmission facilities, and allow counties to impose a surcharge on certain pipeline companies | Defeated |
| 2022 | LRCA | Constitutional Amendment C | Require a three-fifths vote of approval for ballot measures that increase taxes or fees or require the state to appropriate $10 million or more in the first five fiscal years | Defeated |
| 2022 | CICA | Constitutional Amendment D | Expand Medicaid to persons with incomes below 138% of the federal poverty level | Approved |
| 2022 | CISS | Initiated Measure 27 | Legalize marijuana in South Dakota | Defeated |
| 2020 | CICA | Constitutional Amendment A | Legalizes recreational use of marijuana; requires the legislature to pass laws providing for the use of medical marijuana and the sale of hemp by April 1, 2022 | Overturned |
| 2020 | LRCA | Constitutional Amendment B | Legalizes sports betting in Deadwood and requires that net local revenue from such activity be dedicated to the Historic Restoration and Preservation of Deadwood | Approved |
| 2020 | CISS | Initiated Measure 26 | Provides for a medical marijuana program in South Dakota | Approved |
| Year | Type | Title | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | CICA | Amendment W | Require voter approval for substantive legislative changes to a voter-approved initiative or referendum and add the existing simple majority vote requirement for initiatives to the state constitution, among other changes | Defeated |
| 2018 | LRCA | Constitutional Amendment X | Require a 55% vote to approve a constitutional amendment | Defeated |
| 2018 | LRCA | Amendment Y | The South Dakota Changes to Marsy's Law Crime Victim Rights Amendment, Constitutional Amendment Y, is on the ballot in South Dakota as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on June 5, 2018. | Approved |
| 2018 | LRCA | Amendment Z | Enact a single-subject rule for constitutional amendments | Approved |
| 2018 | CISS | Initiated Measure 24 | Prohibit out-of-state persons and entities from making contributions to ballot question committees in South Dakota | Approved |
| 2018 | CISS | Initiated Measure 25 | The South Dakota Tobacco Tax Increase Initiative, Initiated Measure 25, is on the ballot in South Dakota as an initiated state statute on November 6, 2018. | Defeated |
| 2016 | CICA | Constitutional Amendment V | Establish nonpartisan elections | Defeated |
| 2016 | VR | Referred Law 20 | Uphold or repeal Senate Bill 177 (SB 177), a law decreasing the minimum wage for workers under age 18 from $8.50 to $7.50 | Defeated |
| 2016 | LRCA | Constitutional Amendment R | Allow the South Dakota Legislature to determine a separate entity, board or procedure to run technical schools and preventing the South Dakota Board of Regents from running such schools | Approved |
| 2016 | VR | Referred Law 19 | Uphold or repeal Senate Bill 69 (SB 69), a statute changing election laws regarding independent candidates, minor political parties, and signature collection numbers and due dates | Defeated |
| 2016 | CISS | Initiated Measure 23 | Give corporate organizations and nonprofit organizations the right to charge a fee for any service provided | Defeated |
| 2016 | CICA | Constitutional Amendment U | Limit the ability to set statutory interest rates for loans | Defeated |
| 2016 | CICA | Constitutional Amendment S | Expand the rights of crime victims | Approved |
| 2016 | CISS | Initiated Measure 21 | Place an interest rate cap of 36 percent on short-term loans | Approved |
| 2016 | CICA | Constitutional Amendment T | Create an independent redistricting commission | Defeated |
| 2016 | CISS | Initiated Measure 22 | Revise state campaign finance and lobbying laws, and create a publicly funded campaign finance program and an ethics commission | Approved |
| 2014 | LRCA | Amendment Q | The South Dakota Gambling in Deadwood, Amendment Q was on the November 4, 2014 ballot in South Dakota as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, where it was approved. The measure permitted the state legislature to authorize roulette, keno, craps, limited card games and slot machines within the municipal limits of Deadwood in Lawrence County, South Dakota. Amendment Q was designed to continue to allocate all municipal revenues derived from casinos towards the Historic Restoration and Preservation of Deadwood. A sixty percent supermajority approval by local voters was no longer required under the amendment. | Approved |
| 2014 | CISS | Measure 18 | The South Dakota Increased Minimum Wage, Initiated Measure 18 was on the November 4, 2014 ballot in South Dakota as an initiated state statute, where it was approved. | Approved |
| 2014 | CISS | Measure 17 | Require health insurers to include all willing and qualified health care providers on their provider lists | Approved |
| 2012 | LRCA | Constitutional Amendment M | Remove restrictions in the Constitution related to corporations | Defeated |
| 2012 | LRCA | Constitutional Amendment O | Change the method for distributions from the cement plant trust fund | Approved |
| 2012 | LRCA | Constitutional Amendment P | Include balanced budget requirements in the Constitution | Approved |
| 2012 | LRCA | Amendment N | Eliminate the fixed travel reimbursement rate | Defeated |
| 2012 | VR | Referred Law 16 | Uphold or repeal a bill that would give bonuses to high performing teachers, ban tenure and recruit potential candidates for teaching jobs | Defeated |
| 2012 | CISS | Measure 15 | Implement a 1% sales tax increase, from 4% to 5%, and place 20% of the revenue in the South Dakota Moving Forward Fund | Defeated |
| 2012 | VR | Referred Law 14 | Transfer 22% of contractors’ excise tax revenues from the state general fund to the Large Project Development Fund for economic development projects | Defeated |
| 2010 | LRCA | Amendment K | Authorize a vote by secret ballot in elections | Approved |
| 2010 | LRCA | Amendment L | Authorize a reduction of mandatory annual transfers from the cement plant trust fund to the state’s general fund | Defeated |
| 2010 | CISS | Initiative 13 | Authorize the possession, use, and cultivation of marijuana for people registered with the South Dakota Department of Health | Defeated |
| 2010 | VR | Referendum 12 | Prohibit smoking tobacco products in certain public places and require violators to be informed of this ban | Approved |
| Year | Type | Title | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | LRCA | Amendment G | Repeal reimbursement restrictions for legislative members' travel to and from a legislative session | Defeated |
| 2008 | LRCA | Amendment H | Repeal restrictions on corporations, and allow corporations to issue stock and restrict cumulative voting | Defeated |
| 2008 | LRCA | Amendment I | Establish the annual length of legislative session to a maximum of forty days | Approved |
| 2008 | LRCA | Amendment J | Remove term limits for state legislators | Defeated |
| 2008 | CISS | Initiative 10 | Prohibit the use of tax funds for lobbying or campaigning, restrict government contractors and officials from political involvement, and require public disclosure of government contracts | Defeated |
| 2008 | CISS | Initiative 9 | Prohibit short sales of stocks and require a maximum of three business days to have securities delivered to the purchaser | Defeated |
| 2008 | CISS | Initiative 11 | Places restrictions on abortion | Defeated |
| 2006 | LRCA | Amendment C | Amend the constitution to allow and recognize marriage only between a man and a woman | Overturned |
| 2006 | CICA | Amendment D | Establish that the taxable value of property is based on acquisition value | Defeated |
| 2006 | CICA | Amendment E | Allow special grand jurors to penalize judges with fines, jail time, loss of insurance, and reduction of retirement benefits for violating rules set by the jurors | Defeated |
| 2006 | LRCA | Amendment F | Remove legislative expense limits and term limits, restrict special laws, allow emergency powers during disasters, and require transparency for legislative sessions | Defeated |
| 2006 | CISS | Initiative 2 | Increase the tax on cigarettes and tobacco products | Approved |
| 2006 | CISS | Initiative 3 | Prohibit the first day of school to be before August 31st | Defeated |
| 2006 | CISS | Initiative 4 | Allow certified individuals to grow, possess, and use limited amounts of medical marijuana for specified health conditions | Defeated |
| 2006 | CISS | Initiative 5 | Require aircraft owned or leased by the State to be used only for state business | Approved |
| 2006 | CISS | Initiative 7 | Prohibit video lotteries | Defeated |
| 2006 | CISS | Initiative 8 | Repeal a tax on gross receipts of wireless telecommunication services | Defeated |
| 2006 | VR | Referendum 6 | Prohibit any person from giving medicine to a pregnant woman or performing a procedure to carry out an abortion, except if it is to prevent the death of the pregnant woman. Outside of this scenario it is a felony. | Defeated |
| 2004 | LRCA | Amendment A | Establish a system where judges are appointed by the Governor from commission nominees and must face periodic retention elections by voters in their circuit | Defeated |
| 2004 | LRCA | Amendment B | Allow the Legislature to authorize food and transportation services for all school-age children, including those in sectarian schools | Defeated |
| 2004 | CISS | Initiative 1 | Exempt food from sales and use taxes | Defeated |
| 2002 | LRCA | Amendment A | Allow a criminal defendant to challenge the merits, validity, and applicability of the law | Defeated |
| 2002 | LRCA | Amendment A | Repeal the 1998 corporate farming ban and replace it with less restrictive regulations | Defeated |
| 2002 | LRCA | Amendment B | Require the Legislature to adopt a new district apportionment plan if a court finds the current plan invalid | Defeated |
| 2002 | LRCA | Amendment C | Revise the Governor's veto deadlines by excluding weekends and holidays from the five-day period and clarify when the fifteen-day period applies | Approved |
| 2002 | CISS | Initiative 1 | Legalize the cultivation, possession, processing, and sale of industrial hemp | Defeated |
| 2001 | LRCA | Amendment A | Establish a trust fund for the net proceeds of the sale of State Cement Plan | Approved |
| 2001 | LRCA | Amendment B | Establish health care and education trust funds, limit use of their principal, and require a three-fourths legislative vote to repurpose the funds | Approved |
| 2000 | LRCA | Amendment A | Allow the Legislature to create multiple classes of agricultural property for school taxation | Approved |
| 2000 | LRCA | Amendment B | Allow voters to combine or eliminate local government offices by majority vote | Approved |
| 2000 | CICA | Amendment C | Repeal the state tax on inheritance, and prohibit the Legislature from enacting a tax on inheritance | Approved |
| 2000 | CICA | Amendment D | Repeal video lottery laws | Defeated |
| 2000 | LRCA | Amendment E | Allow investment of state education funds in stocks, and limit legislative reimbursement to losses from unconstitutional acts | Approved |
| 2000 | CISS | Initiative 1 | Raise the maximum bet limits for limited card games and slot machines in the city of Deadwood | Approved |
| Year | Type | Title | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | CICA | Amendment A | Prohibit the use of property taxes for public schools | Defeated |
| 1998 | LRCA | Amendment B | Allow the Legislature to create a joint committee with authority to approve funding transfers and change their purposes when the Legislature is not in session | Defeated |
| 1998 | LRCA | Amendment C | Remove conflict of interest rules for legislators | Defeated |
| 1998 | LRCA | Amendment D | Allow local voters to merge, eliminate, or jointly fund government offices or functions | Defeated |
| 1998 | CICA | Amendment E | Prohibit corporations from acquiring new farmland or engaging in new farming or livestock operations | Approved |
| 1998 | LRCA | Amendment F | Allow the Legislature to create unlimited classes of agricultural property for school taxation | Defeated |
| 1998 | LRCA | Amendment G | Allow the Investment Council to invest school and charitable funds in stocks | Defeated |
| 1998 | LRCA | Amendment H | Lower the minimum age for legislators and raise the minimum age for the Governor and lieutenant governor | Approved |
| 1998 | VR | Referendum 2 | Refer a law that shifted unclaimed property oversight from the State Treasurer to the Secretary of Revenue | Defeated |
| 1996 | LRCA | Amendment A | Transfer school fund investment duties to the State Investment Council and allow school funds to be invested as other state funds | Approved |
| 1996 | LRCA | Amendment B | Require a two-thirds majority vote of each branch of the Legislature to approve tax increases or new taxes | Approved |
| 1996 | CISS | Initiated Measure 1 | Require South Dakota’s congressional delegation to support term limits and label candidates on the ballot based on their stance | Approved |
| 1994 | LRCA | Amendment A | Allow the Legislature to require lessees of state agricultural lands to pay property taxes on their lease interests | Approved |
| 1994 | LRCA | Amendment B | Allow 17-year-olds who will turn 18 by the November general election to vote in all elections held earlier that year | Defeated |
| 1994 | LRCA | Amendment C | Expand school fund investment options and transfer investment authority to the Commissioner of School and Public Lands | Defeated |
| 1994 | LRCA | Amendment D | Lower the minimum age to 18 for citizens seeking to be elected for state representative offices | Defeated |
| 1994 | LRCA | Amendment E | Allow continued operation of the video lottery system despite a court ruling, discourage lawsuits against the state treasury, and prohibit private ownership expansion and statewide slot machines | Approved |
| 1994 | CISS | Initiated Measure 1 | Limit property tax assessments | Defeated |
| 1994 | VR | Referred Law 2 | Require front seat occupants of vehicles to wear seat belts | Approved |
| 1993 | VR | Referendum 1 | Allow certain lodging establishments to have more gaming devices than other establishments, and increase the maximum bet limit | Defeated |
| 1992 | CICA | Amendment A | Allow term limits for state representatives, state executives, and federal representatives | Approved |
| 1992 | CISS | Initiated Measure 2 | Limit land disturbance by large-scale gold or silver mines, and require acre-for-acre reclamation for new and existing operations | Approved |
| 1992 | CISS | Initiated Measure 3 | Prohibit state sale taxes on groceries, clothing, and utilities, but allow municipalities to tax those items | Defeated |
| 1992 | CISS | Initiated Measure 4 | Repeal all statutory provisions authorizing video lottery games | Defeated |
| 1992 | VR | Referendum 1 | Refer a law that approved "Lonetree" solid waste disposal facility, subject to the terms and conditions of its solid waste permits | Defeated |
| 1990 | LRCA | Amendment A | Allow the Legislature to decide how to dispose of land no longer used for railroads or highways when the original owner is deceased | Defeated |
| 1990 | LRCA | Amendment B | Allow State Legislators to contract with the State or counties during and after their terms if the contract is awarded through competitive bidding | Defeated |
| 1990 | LRCA | Amendment C | Prohibit the Legislature from enacting an income tax unless the revenue is dedicated to education and property tax replacement | Defeated |
| 1990 | LRCA | Amendment D | Require a special legislative session to be convened if two-thirds of each house sign a petition stating its purpose | Approved |
| 1990 | LRCA | Amendment E | Limit real property tax revenue to 2% increase per year with limited exceptions | Defeated |
| 1990 | CISS | Initiated Measure 1 | Require legislative approval for large-scale waste facilities | Approved |
| 1990 | CISS | Initiated Measure 2 | Limit large-scale gold and silver mining in the Black Hills to 3,100 permitted acres, and require land trades or reclamation to add new acreage once the cap is reached | Defeated |
| Year | Type | Title | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | LRCA | Amendment A | Allow initiated measures to go directly to the ballot with enough voter signatures | Approved |
| 1988 | IndICA | Amendment B | Authorize gambling in the city of Deadwood | Approved |
| 1988 | IndICA | Amendment C | Revise limitations on property taxes | Defeated |
| 1988 | LRCA | Amendment D | Abolish the Board of Charities and Corrections | Approved |
| 1988 | IndISS | Initiated Measure 1 | Require large-scale metallic mineral mines to restore land, treat waste, and meet environmental standards | Defeated |
| 1988 | IndISS | Initiative 2 | Enact a 4% sales tax on metallic minerals from large-scale surface mines in South Dakota | Defeated |
| 1988 | IndISS | Initiated Measure 3 | Prohibit corporations, except family farm corporations, from operating hog confinement facilities and expand the definition of family farm corporations | Approved |
| 1988 | VR | Referred Law 4 | Revise the regulations on telecommunications companies from the Public Utilities Commission | Approved |
| 1986 | LRCA | Amendment A | Allow the Governor to establish the duties of the Lieutenant Governor | Defeated |
| 1986 | LRCA | Amendment B | Allow the Legislature to authorize and regulate a state lottery | Approved |
| 1986 | LRCA | Amendment C | Authorize the loan of nonsectarian textbooks to children in nonpublic schools | Approved |
| 1986 | IndISS | Initiated Measure 1 | Establish the legal observation of Memorial Day as the last Monday in May | Approved |
| 1985 | LRAQ | Question 1 | Establish Dakota Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management | Defeated |
| 1984 | LRCA | Amendment A | Combine the duties of the state treasurer and the commissioner of school and public lands | Defeated |
| 1984 | IndISS | Initiated Measure 1 | Require a statewide vote to allow nuclear waste disposal or join interstate disposal compacts | Approved |
| 1984 | IndISS | Initiative 2 | Prohibit the school board from setting the first day of the school year earlier than the first Tuesday of September | Approved |
| 1984 | IndISS | Initiated Measure 3 | Require South Dakota’s Governor to urge federal officials to seek a nuclear freeze | Defeated |
| 1982 | CICA | Amendment A | Enact a new apportionment process with single or dual member district | Approved |
| 1982 | LRCA | Amendment B | Revise the finds and establishment of interest rates for school land sales | Approved |
| 1982 | LRCA | Amendment C | Change the first day of the Legislative session to the second Tuesday of January | Approved |
| 1982 | LRCA | Amendment D | Allow certain games of chance in the state | Defeated |
| 1980 | LRCA | Amendment A | Revise appointment of Supreme Court Justices and circuit court judges | Approved |
| 1980 | CICA | Amendment B | Limit property tax increases | Defeated |
| 1980 | CICA | Amendment C | Limit the Legislature’s power to alter voter-initiated laws | Defeated |
| 1980 | LRCA | Amendment D | Prohibit the Legislature from amending or repealing initiated or referred laws approved by the voters for seven years after the effective date of the law without two-thirds majority vote of each house of the Legislature | Defeated |
| 1980 | LRCA | Amendment E | Change the legislative session lengths to alternate between forty and thirty-five days, and establish the start date to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January | Approved |
| 1980 | IndISS | Initiative 1 | Prohibit new uranium mining, nuclear waste storage, and nuclear power plant construction in South Dakota unless approved by both the State Department of Water and Natural Resources and a majority of state voters | Defeated |
| 1980 | VR | Referendum 1 | Allow the hunting of mourning doves | Approved |
| Year | Type | Title | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | LRCA | Amendment A | Set a forty legislative day session for the legislature and remove the allowance limitation for legislator travel reimbursement | Defeated |
| 1978 | LRCA | Amendment B | Remove constitutional limits on how school and endowment funds are invested, and allow the Legislature to authorize more flexible and potentially higher-risk investments | Defeated |
| 1978 | LRCA | Amendment C | Preserve mineral rights in public lands | Approved |
| 1978 | LRCA | Amendment D | Require legislative approval or voter initiative with legislative approval to increase existing tax rates or levies | Approved |
| 1978 | IndISS | Initiated Measure 1 | Restructure gas and electric rates to lower costs for basic usage and promote conservation by charging higher rates for excessive consumption | Defeated |
| 1978 | IndISS | Initiated Measure 2 | Repeal the Dairy Industry Marketing Act | Approved |
| 1978 | IndISS | Initiated Measure 3 | Revise obscenity laws and penalties | Defeated |
| 1976 | LRCA | Amendment A | Amend the Preamble of the South Dakota Constitution | Defeated |
| 1976 | LRCA | Amendment B | Consolidate the Bill of Rights of the South Dakota Constitution | Defeated |
| 1976 | LRCA | Amendment C | Revise the structure and powers of the Legislative branch | Defeated |
| 1976 | LRCA | Amendment D | Repeal prohibition on Legislature from delegating powers to any special commission, private corporation, or association | Defeated |
| 1976 | LRCA | Amendment E | Revise the procedure for the sale and investment of school and public lands | Defeated |
| 1976 | LRCA | Amendment F | Organize and delete sections of the Constitution | Defeated |
| 1974 | LRCA | Amendment A | Revise Legislative structure and powers | Defeated |
| 1974 | LRCA | Amendment B | Replace Article VII to guarantee free and equal elections, expand voting rights, remove outdated provisions, and clarify legislative authority over election laws | Approved |
| 1972 | LRCA | Amendment A | Establish 18 as the minimum voting age | Approved |
| 1972 | LRCA | Amendment B | Reduction of government and term limitations for state constitutional officers | Approved |
| 1972 | LRCA | Amendment C | Establish a Unified Court System | Approved |
| 1972 | LRCA | Amendment D | Expand home rule, allow the Legislature authority to organize local governments, and allow intergovernmental cooperation under legislative restrictions | Approved |
| 1972 | LRCA | Amendment E | Establishes the initiated constitutional amendment process and other changes | Approved |
| 1972 | IndISS | Initiative 1 | Permit the hunting of mourning doves | Defeated |
| 1970 | LRCA | Amendment A | Reduce the residency requirements for elected officials in the state to 180 days | Approved |
| 1970 | LRCA | Amendment B | Revise the requirements and process for initiatives and referendums | Defeated |
| 1970 | LRCA | Amendment C | Allow retired judges to act in a judicial capacity after retirement | Approved |
| 1970 | LRCA | Amendment D | Allow the Legislature to authorize games of chance when conducted by charitable organizations or donated to charitable causes | Approved |
| 1970 | LRCA | Amendment E | Change the term lengths and limitations for state officers | Defeated |
| 1970 | LRCA | Amendment F | Allow 19-year-olds to qualify as an elector | Defeated |
| 1970 | LRCA | Amendment G | Allow new residents of South Dakota registered in another state to vote only for President and Vice President of the United States | Approved |
| 1970 | LRCA | Amendment H | Revise procedures for managing school trust lands | Defeated |
| 1970 | LRCA | Amendment I | Allow a single proposal to amend multiple Articles or Sections of the Constitution | Defeated |
| 1970 | IndISS | Initiated Measure 2 | Enact an income tax and exemptions from personal property taxes | Defeated |
| 1970 | IndISS | Initiative 1 | Repeal a 1969 state law that required publicly or privately owned municipal water supplies to add fluoride | Defeated |
| Year | Type | Title | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | LRCA | Amendment A | Increase the limit of tracts offered in the sale of school lands to 640 acres | Defeated |
| 1968 | LRCA | Amendment B | Exclude bonds or leases from debt limitations and establish a higher debt limit | Defeated |
| 1968 | LRCA | Amendment C | Allow retired judges to act in a judicial capacity after retirement | Defeated |
| 1968 | LRCA | Amendment D | Allow the Legislature to sell U.S. bonds purchased with school and educational funds at a loss | Approved |
| 1968 | LRCA | Amendment E | Establish the State Board of Education and State Superintendent of Public Instruction as appointed offices | Defeated |
| 1968 | VR | Referred Law 1 | Disregard the observance of Daylight Savings Time in the state | Defeated |
| 1968 | VR | Referred Law 2 | Establish a State Commission on Elementary and Secondary Education, and require statewide independent school districts that offer accredited school programs | Approved |
| 1966 | LRCA | Amendment A | Allow the Legislature to constitute all agricultural property as a separate class for taxation | Approved |
| 1966 | LRCA | Amendment B | Remove the surveyor as a constitutional county officer, and allow counties the option to elect the county superintendent of schools | Approved |
| 1966 | LRCA | Amendment C | Establish county court districts in the state | Approved |
| 1964 | LRCA | Amendment B | Repeal the mandatory 12 weeks publication requirements for the election of Amendments | Defeated |
| 1964 | LRCA | Amendment B | Combine county offices into one elected position | Approved |
| 1964 | LRCA | Amendment C | Allow the Legislature to make all agricultural property a separate class for taxation to fund public schools | Defeated |
| 1964 | VR | Referred Law 1 | Allow the state to have jurisdiction to enforce criminal and civil laws on Native American reservations | Defeated |
| 1964 | VR | Referred Law 2 | Limit unemployment benefits based on earnings in a calendar quarter | Defeated |
| 1964 | VR | Referred Law 3 | Establish a voting registration deadline of 20 days before an election | Defeated |
| 1962 | LRCA | Legislative Sessions Amendment | Establish annual legislative sessions of 45 days in odd-numbered years and 30 days in even-numbered years | Approved |
| 1962 | LRCA | Municipal Home Rule Amendment | Allow municipalities to adopt a Home Rule Charter of government | Approved |
| 1962 | LRCA | Eminent Domain Procedure Amendment | Allow the state or other public bodies to take immediate possession of private property for public use | Approved |
| 1960 | LRCA | Amendment A | Allow all county officers to serve without term limit | Approved |
| 1960 | LRCA | Amendment B | Prohibit dividing counties into multiple senatorial districts and limit each senatorial district to no more than two senators | Defeated |
| 1960 | LRCA | Amendment C | Establish the Board of Pardons and Paroles authority | Approved |
| 1960 | LRCA | Amendent D | Adopt measures to ensure government continuity in times of enemy attacks | Approved |
| Year | Type | Title | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | LRCA | Amendment A | Allow municipalities to adopt a Home Rule Charter government | Defeated |
| 1958 | LRCA | Amendment B | Require assessors to deduct land used for public highways on section lines and other property used exclusively for highway purposes from taxable land assessments | Approved |
| 1958 | LRCA | Amendment C | Establish a line of succession for the Governor's office | Approved |
| 1958 | LRCA | Amendment D | Reduce the eligible voting age to 18 | Defeated |
| 1958 | LRCA | Amendment E | Allow voters who move within the state to retain their right to vote in their previous precinct until they establish a new voting residence | Approved |
| 1956 | VR | Referred Law 1 | Expand Soldiers' Home authority, broaden eligibility, set financial and residency rules, and allow state liens for unpaid care | Defeated |
| 1956 | LRCA | Succession of County Officials Amendment | Allow county elected officials to serve two years in office and succeed themselves | Defeated |
| 1954 | LRCA | Amendment A | Require that money from leasing state lands for oil, gas, and minerals be distributed to public schools and state institutions based on the proportion of land originally granted to them | Approved |
| 1954 | LRCA | Amendment B | Limit the debt of local governments and school districts | Approved |
| 1954 | LRCA | Amendment C | Allow the Clerk of Courts, the Sheriff, and the County Superintendent of Schools to succeed themselves in office | Approved |
| 1954 | LRCA | Amendment D | Allow the Legislature to establish classes of property for assessment taxation purposes | Defeated |
| 1952 | LRCA | Amendment A | Establish the legal voting age to be 18 years old | Defeated |
| 1952 | LRCA | Amendment B | Prevent the Governor from issuing pardons in certain cases without the recommendation of the Board of Pardons | Defeated |
| 1952 | LRCA | Amendment B | Require that certain funds be invested solely by the Commissioner of School and Public Lands in specified government bonds | Approved |
| 1950 | LRCA | Amendment A | Limit counties to two Senators during apportionment | Defeated |
| 1950 | LRCA | Amendment B | Limit the debt of any school district to 10% of the assessed value of property for taxes | Defeated |
| 1950 | LRCA | Amendment C | Transfer investment authority of educational funds from counties to the Commissioner of School and Public Lands | Defeated |
| 1950 | LRCA | Amendment D | Allow the clerk of courts and county superintendent to be elected to multiple terms of office | Defeated |
| 1950 | IndISS | Initiated Measure 1 | Prohibit the sale or possession of alcohol in any place that also sells items other than tobacco, tobacco products, and soft drinks | Defeated |
| Year | Type | Title | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | LRCA | Amendment A | Require legislative reapportionment based on the census every ten years, effective in 1951 | Approved |
| 1948 | LRCA | Amendment B | Allow the governor to fill vacancies in either house of the legislature | Approved |
| 1948 | LRCA | Amendment C | Allow school and public lands to be leased for agricultural purposes for up to five years | Approved |
| 1948 | LRCA | Amendment D | Allow taxes on state public shooting areas | Approved |
| 1948 | LRCA | Amendment E | Allow veterans who served in World War 2 to receive a veterans' bonus | Approved |
| 1948 | IndISS | Initiated Measure | Prohibit the sale or possession of alcoholic beverages in any location where commodities other than tobacco, tobacco products, or soft drinks are sold | Defeated |
| 1948 | VR | Referred Law | Regulate the sale of liquor by its age and container size | Defeated |
| 1946 | LRCA | Amendment A | Allow the Legislature by a two-thirds majority vote to fix the salary of Constitutional officers | Approved |
| 1946 | LRCA | Amendment B | Include the right to work in the Bill of Rights | Approved |
| 1946 | LRCA | Amendment C | Require every bill to be read twice during the legislative process | Approved |
| 1946 | VR | Referred Law | Require healthcare institutions to operate with a license authorized by the State Board of Health | Approved |
| 1944 | LRCA | Amendment A | Restrict loans on educational funds to one-third of value | Defeated |
| 1944 | LRCA | Amendment B | Establish State Charitable and Penal Institutions and a state-appointed board to oversee educational institutions | Approved |
| 1942 | LRCA | Amendment A | Increase the salaries of the Governor, judges, and other specific officers | Defeated |
| 1942 | LRCA | Amendment B | Change the investment restrictions on permanent school funds | Defeated |
| 1942 | LRCA | Amendment C | Fund school districts from endowment land lease money in proportion to school tax | Defeated |
| 1942 | LRCA | Amendment D | Require income from leased Permanent School Fund lands to be distributed to school districts as if taxed, with the remainder shared statewide for public schools | Defeated |
| 1942 | LRCA | Amendment E | Increase the annual salary of Supreme Court Judges | Defeated |
| 1942 | VR | State Oil and Gas Board and Regulations Referendum | Create a State Oil and Gas Board to regulate oil and gas production, including waste | Defeated |
| 1940 | LRCA | Amendment A | Require proceeds from gas taxes and vehicle registration fees be used to fund highway construction and maintenance | Approved |
| 1940 | LRCA | Amendment B | Allow the Governor to appoint a person to the Legislature to fill a vacancy | Defeated |
| 1940 | LRCA | Amendment C | Require that permanent school and educational funds be invested in secure assets such as first mortgages on South Dakota farmland and certain government bonds | Defeated |
| 1940 | VR | Referred Law | Abolish the Unemployment Compensation Commission | Defeated |
| Year | Type | Title | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | LRCA | Amendment A | Require an apportionment of the Legislature after the 1945 census, and increase the number of members in the Legislature | Defeated |
| 1938 | VR | Unemployment Compensation Commission Referendum | Abolish the Unemployment Compensation Commission and establish the Office of Unemployment Compensation Commissioner to assume its responsibilities | Defeated |
| 1936 | LRCA | Amendment A | Reduce the size limits of the House of Representatives and Senate, and requiring population counts every ten years starting in 1935 | Approved |
| 1936 | LRCA | Amendment B | Limit the State Treasurer to serving two consecutive terms, and establish the election of the Superintendent of Public Instruction as a non-partisan office | Approved |
| 1936 | LRCA | Amendment C | Establish the office of County Superintendent as non-partisan, and allow the Superintendent and Clerk of Courts to serve succeeding terms | Approved |
| 1936 | LRCA | Amendment D | Remove counties' authority for rural credit program, and eliminate the state's debt limit exception for rural credits | Approved |
| 1936 | LRCA | Amendment E | Exempt shareholders of state banks from personal liability if federal law exempts national bank shareholders and the state bank is a member of the FDIC | Approved |
| 1934 | LRCA | Amendment A | Prohibit the state from extending credit or engaging in new works of internal improvement, except for highways | Defeated |
| 1934 | LRCA | Amendment B | Repeal prohibition in the state | Approved |
| 1934 | VR | Referred Law 1 | Abolish the Railroad Commission, and establish and transfer its duties to the Utility Commission | Defeated |
| 1932 | LRCA | Amendment A | Allow the Superintendent of Schools to be re-elected for more than a four year term | Defeated |
| 1932 | LRCA | Amendment B | Allow the Legislature to determine the salaries of state officers | Defeated |
| 1932 | VR | Referred Law 1 | Change Normal Schools to Teachers' Colleges | Defeated |
| 1932 | VR | Referred Law 2 | Enact a $0.10 per pound tax on butter substitutes | Approved |
| 1930 | LRCA | Amendment A | Allow a person to be suspended of their sentence if it is their first conviction | Approved |
| 1930 | LRCA | Amendment B | Require that all interest, income, and fines from state law violations are used exclusively for the benefit of public schools | Approved |
| 1930 | LRCA | Amendment C | Allow the Legislature to classify property for school taxation | Approved |
| 1930 | LRCA | Amendment D | Allow local taxing districts to tax rural credit lands | Approved |
| 1930 | LRCA | Amendment E | Allow the Legislature to determine the salaries for state officers | Defeated |
| 1930 | VR | Referred Law | Enact a registration tax on motor vehicles | Defeated |
| Year | Type | Title | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1926 | LRCA | Amendment A | Increase the salaries of state officials, and prohibit certain current expense allowances for state officers | Defeated |
| 1926 | VR | Referred Law 1 | Repeal depositors guarantee fund | Defeated |
| 1924 | LRCCQ | Constitutional Convention Question | Convene a Constitutional Convention | Defeated |
| 1924 | VR | Referred Law 1 | Organize several unorganized counties, and require Tripp County to obtain and maintain official records from Todd County | Defeated |
| 1924 | VR | Referred Law 2 | Establish the nomination and election process for Supreme, Circuit, and County Court judges, and require candidates to file a written declaration of qualification | Defeated |
| 1924 | VR | Referred Law 3 | Revise the primary and initiative election process | Defeated |
| 1924 | VR | Referred Law 4 | Revise public warehouse laws | Defeated |
| 1922 | LRCA | Amendment A | Allow the Legislature to set salaries of state officials, and prohibit certain current expense allowances granted to State officers | Defeated |
| 1922 | LRCA | Amendment B | Increase the number of petition signatures for the initiative and referendum process | Defeated |
| 1922 | LRCA | Amendment C | Allow the Legislature to organize counties | Defeated |
| 1922 | LRCA | Amendment D | Allow the Legislature to grant municipal and other local authorities the power to levy uniform taxes and special assessments for local improvements, including protecting riverbank lands from erosion or flooding | Defeated |
| 1922 | IndISS | Initiative 1 | Construct and maintain state hydro-electric power plans and transmission systems | Defeated |
| 1922 | IndISS | Referred Law 2 | Abolish the state constabulary | Defeated |
| 1922 | IndISS | Referred Law 4 | Allow the state to establish a state owned bank | Defeated |
| 1922 | IndISS | Referred Law 5 | Relocate the state university from Vermillion to Sioux Falls | Defeated |
| 1922 | IndISS | Referred Law 5 | Prohibit theater performances on Sundays | Defeated |
| 1920 | LRCA | Amendment A | Allow the Legislature to determine state officers' salaries and prohibit expense allowances for state officers | Defeated |
| 1920 | LRCA | Amendment B | Replace State Board of Charities and Corrections with a State Board of Control | Defeated |
| 1920 | LRCA | Amendment C | Allow cities to incur debt to construct and maintain street railways and lighting | Defeated |
| 1920 | LRCA | Amendment D | Establish a state system of credit for assisting in home construction | Approved |
| 1920 | LRCA | Amendment E | Provide a bonus to soldiers who honorably served in the United States Army | Approved |
| 1920 | VR | Referred Law 1 | Amend prohibition laws | Defeated |
| 1920 | IndISS | Referred Law 2 | Establish primary elections for party nominations, delegate and committeeman selection, penalties for violations, and registration procedures | Defeated |
| Year | Type | Title | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1918 | LRCA | Amendment A | Enact a graduated individual income tax | Approved |
| 1918 | LRCA | Amendment B | Allow the Legislature to select a replacement judge for the Supreme Court when a judge is disqualified from the proceedings | Approved |
| 1918 | LRCA | Amendment C | Reduce the down payment on the sales of school lands | Approved |
| 1918 | LRCA | Amendment D | Increase the salaries of state officials | Defeated |
| 1918 | LRCA | Amendment F | Allow the state mine, distribute, and sell coal | Approved |
| 1918 | LRCA | Amendment G | Allow the state to incur debt for internal improvement | Approved |
| 1918 | LRCA | Amendment H | Allow the state to incur debt for internal improvement | Approved |
| 1918 | LRCA | Amendment I | Allow the state to develop and provide water power | Approved |
| 1918 | LRCA | Amendment J | Allow the state to produce and sell cement | Approved |
| 1918 | LRCA | Amendment K | Declare hail insurance a public purpose and allow the Legislature to levy assessments on agricultural land to provide hail insurance | Approved |
| 1918 | LRCA | Amendment L | Allow the state to construct and maintain grain elevators and warehouses and to do business with the flour and meat-packing business. | Approved |
| 1918 | IndISS | Initiated Law 1 | Decrease the cost of primary elections, and hold government parties more accountable | Approved |
| 1918 | LRCA | Women's Suffrage Amendment | Provides for women's suffrage in state constitution | Approved |
| 1916 | LRCA | Amendment 1 | Allow the state to construct and maintain roads and supply coal from state lands | Approved |
| 1916 | LRCA | Amendment 2 | Allow the legislature to establish irrigation districts and fund irrigation of agricultural land through special assessments on the benefitted land | Approved |
| 1916 | LRCA | Amendent 3 | Revise Article XI on revenue and finance | Defeated |
| 1916 | LRCA | Amendment 4 | Allow the state or counties to establish a rural credit system allowing loans and credit to residents based on real estate security | Approved |
| 1916 | LRCA | Amendment 5 | Call a constitutional convention to revise the state constitution and reduce the number of convention members to match the number of state senators | Defeated |
| 1916 | LRCA | Amendment 7 | Prohibit the production and sale of alcohol | Approved |
| 1916 | LRCA | Amendment 8 | Remove five-year lease limits on school lands | Defeated |
| 1916 | LRCA | Amendment 9 | Allow the legislature to determine the salaries of state officials by a two-thirds vote | Defeated |
| 1916 | IndISS | Referred Law 1 | Regulate political party transactions to simplify primary elections, ensure party accountability to the people, and reduce election costs | Defeated |
| 1916 | VR | Referred Law 2 | Regulate the issuance of permits for the sale of intoxicating liquors by calling an election on the matter through a petition process | Defeated |
| 1916 | IndISS | Amendment 4 | Establish a Department of Banking and Finance | Defeated |
| 1916 | VR | Referred Law 5 | Require a five-sixths jury verdict in civil trials | Defeated |
| 1916 | IndISS | State Banking Board Initiative | Create a state banking board | Defeated |
| 1916 | LRCA | Women's Suffrage Amendment | Provides for women's suffrage in state constitution | Defeated |
| 1914 | LRCA | Amendment 2 | Reduce interest on the purchase of school lands | Approved |
| 1914 | LRCA | Amendment 3 | Remove term limits of the clerk of the court and superintendent of schools | Defeated |
| 1914 | LRCA | Amendment 4 | Allow the people to initiate or refer laws to a public vote, with a 5% threshold of electors to invoke such actions | Defeated |
| 1914 | LRCA | Amendment 5 | Establish that state institutions, including the soldiers’ home, are governed by a state board of control, while the educational functions of public universities and schools are overseen by a board of regents | Defeated |
| 1914 | LRCA | Amendment 6 | Increase the legislative term to four years | Defeated |
| 1914 | LRCA | Amendment 7 | Allow the temporary appointment of replacement Supreme Court judges when a judge is disqualified from a specific case | Defeated |
| 1914 | LRCA | Amendment 8 | Declare the irrigation of agricultural lands a public purpose | Defeated |
| 1914 | CISS | Coffey Primary Election Law Measure | Repeal and replace the Richard's Primary Law, which was an initiative approved by voters in 1912 | Defeated |
| 1914 | LRCCQ | Proposing a Constitutional Convention | Call for a Constitutional Convention | Defeated |
| 1914 | IndISS | Referred Law 1 | Allow the sale of alcohol in retail stores | Defeated |
| 1914 | VR | Referred Law 3 | Establish that the school shall provide comprehensive instruction in manual training, teaching, industrial and mechanical trades, arts, sciences, and related fields | Defeated |
| 1914 | LRCA | Women's Suffrage Amendment | Provides for women's suffrage in state constitution | Defeated |
| 1912 | LRCA | Amendment 1 | Establish uniform taxation of corporations | Approved |
| 1912 | IndISS | Measure 1 | Establish regulation of political party transactions | Approved |
| 1912 | VR | Measure 2 | Require headlights on locomotives | Approved |
| 1912 | VR | Measure 3 | Require damages for trespass of animals | Approved |
| 1912 | VR | Measure 4 | Establish a process for removing county seats | Approved |
| 1910 | LRCA | Attorney General's Salary Amendment | Allow the Legislature to determine the salary of the Attorney General at its biennial sessions | Defeated |
| 1910 | LRCA | Change State Tax Structure Amendment | Create a permanent fund to support South Dakota public schools | Defeated |
| 1910 | VR | Congressional Districts Creation Referendum | Divide South Dakota into two congressional districts | Defeated |
| 1910 | LRCA | Debt Limit for Water and Sewage Amendment | Prohibit a municipality from incurring debt greater than 10% of the assessed value of taxable property for the purpose of providing a water and sewer system | Defeated |
| 1910 | LRCA | Electoral Approval of New Institutions Amendment | Require a majority vote approval of qualified electors to establish new state institutions | Defeated |
| 1910 | VR | Embalmer Licensing Referendum | Require a license from the State Board of Health to practice embalming and an official shipping permit to transport a corpse | Defeated |
| 1910 | VR | Headlights on Locomotives Required Referendum | Require all railway corporations to install headlights on their locomotives | Defeated |
| 1910 | VR | Removal of State and Local Officers Referendum | Allow the governor to remove or suspend elected officials not liable to impeachment in cases of misconduct | Defeated |
| 1910 | LRCA | School Land Use Amendment | Allow public school lands to be used for pasturage, meadow, farming, grain cultivation, and general agricultural purposes | Approved |
| 1910 | VR | State Militia Organization Referendum | Establish the National Guard and Militia of South Dakota | Defeated |
| 1910 | LRCA | Women's Suffrage Amendment | Provides for women's suffrage in state constitution | Defeated |
| Year | Type | Title | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1908 | LRCA | Attorney General's Salary Amendment | Establish that the Attorney General shall receive the same salary as other state officers | Defeated |
| 1908 | VR | Divorce Settlement Referendum | Set residency requirements and procedures for filing divorce in South Dakota | Approved |
| 1908 | IndISS | Local Liquor Option Initiative | Regulate the manufacturing and sale of alcohol | Defeated |
| 1908 | VR | Prohibit Sunday Performance Referendum | Prohibit theatrical and other performances on Sundays | Approved |
| 1908 | VR | Protection of Quail Referendum | Prohibit shooting, killing, catching, capturing or destroying any quail before October 1, 1912, and prohibit taking, molesting or destroying the nest or eggs of the birds | Approved |
| 1908 | LRCA | Revise Taxation Articles Amendment | Establish uniform taxation laws and financial procedures, and restrict public debt | Defeated |
| 1906 | LRCA | Assessments for Agricultural Drainage Amendment | Recognize agricultural land drainage as a public purpose, and allow the legislature to fund and organize drainage projects and districts | Approved |
| 1906 | LRCA | Municipal Courts in Larger Cities Amendment | Allow the Legislature to establish municipal courts, as an alternative to police magistrates, in cities with a population greater than 5,000 inhabitants | Approved |
| 1906 | LRCA | Superintendent of Schools Qualifications Amendment | Allow the legislature to set extra qualifications for superintendents of schools | Approved |
| 1906 | LRCA | Twine Plant at Penitentiary Amendment | Allow the Legislature to levy a tax to establish and maintain a hard fiber twine and forage plant at the state penitentiary in Sioux Falls, South Dakota | Approved |
| 1904 | LRCA | Attorney General's Salary Amendment | Establish the attorney general's salary as the same of other state officers | Defeated |
| 1904 | LRCA | Investment of School Money Amendment | Allow investment of school funds in farm mortgages and government bonds at a minimum 5% interest | Approved |
| 1904 | LRCA | Seat of Government Amendment | Establish the seat of government of the state of South Dakota as the City of Mitchell in Davison County | Defeated |
| 1902 | LRCA | Location of County Seats Amendment | Allow a county seat to be changed by a two-thirds vote at a general election, or by a three-fifths vote if moving it to a railroad station | Approved |
| 1902 | LRCA | Lower Interest Rate on School Funds Amendment | Decrease the interest rate on investments of the permanent school and education funds from six percent to five percent per year | Approved |
| 1902 | LRCA | Municipal Debt Limits for Water, Street Railways and Lighting Amendment | Allow local governments to increase the debt limit for water and sewer systems and street lights with a majority electoral vote | Approved |
| 1900 | LRCA | Investment of School Funds by Counties Amendment | Require counties in the state to invest in the Permanent School and Endowment Funds in public bonds or first mortgages on local improved farmland | Approved |
| 1900 | LRCA | Repeal of State Control Liquor Amendment | Repeal state jurisdiction over the manufacture and sale of alcohol | Approved |
| Year | Type | Title | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1898 | LRCA | Initiative and Referendum Process Amendment | Provides for the initiative and referendum process in the state constitution | Approved |
| 1898 | LRCA | State Control of Liquor Amendment | Establish the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors to be under state jurisdiction | Approved |
| 1898 | LRCA | Women's Suffrage Amendment | Provides for women's suffrage in state constitution | Defeated |
| 1896 | LRCA | Abolish Regents' Board of Trustees Amendment | Repeal the Regents' Board of Trustees and establish an appointed board to govern all state educational institutions | Approved |
| 1896 | LRCA | Civil Township Debt Limit Amendment | Limit local government debt, with exceptions for water projects with voter approval | Approved |
| 1896 | LRCA | Prohibition of Monopolies Amendment | Prohibit monopolies and anti-competitive agreements that fix prices, limit production, or regulate transportation to suppress competition | Approved |
| 1896 | LRCA | Prohibition Repeal Amendment | Repeal prohibition on alcohol | Approved |
| 1894 | LRCA | Homesteads Exempt from Court Orders Amendment | Require the legislature to define by law the value and size of homesteads exempt from court-ordered seizure or sale, with exceptions, and to provide an exemption for a reasonable amount of personal property | Defeated |
| 1894 | LRCA | Superintendent of Schools Successive Term Limit Amendment | Allow the Superintendent of Schools to hold office for more than four years in succession | Defeated |
| 1894 | LRCA | Women's Suffrage in School Affairs Amendment | Provides for women's suffrage in elections related to school affairs | Defeated |
| 1892 | LRCA | Mileage Allowance Amendment | Reduce members of the Legislatures travel allowance to $0.05 per mile | Approved |
| 1890 | LRCA | Native American Suffrage Amendment | Prohibit Native Americans who sustain tribal relations, receive support from the United States government, or hold untaxable land from voting in elections held under the state constitution | Defeated |
| 1890 | LRCA | State Debt Limit Amendment | Limit debts to $500,000 for extraordinary expenses, public improvements, or revenue shortfalls | Defeated |
| 1890 | LRCA | Women's Suffrage Amendment | Provide for women's suffrage in state constitution | Defeated |
| Year | Type | Title | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1889 | CCRCA | Constitutional Ratification Measure | Ratify the 1889 Constitution that was decided at the constitutional convention | Approved |
| 1889 | CCRCA | Prohibition of Alcohol Measure | Support the prohibition on alcohol | Approved |
Analysis
Ballotpedia completed an inventory of South Dakota ballot measures from 1889 to 2024. South Dakotans have decided on 366 measures placed on the ballot by successful citizen initiatives and the South Dakota State Legislature. The types of measures decided included initiated constitutional amendments, indirect initiated constitutional amendments, initiated state statutes, indirect initiated state statutes, veto referendums, legislatively referred constitutional amendments, advisory questions, constitutional convention referrals, and constitutional convention questions. One hundred sixty (160) measures were approved, and two hundred six (206) measures were defeated.
The inventory of South Dakota statewide ballot measures is part of Ballotpedia's Historical Ballot Measure Factbook, which will document nearly 200 years of direct democracy in the United States. This ongoing research effort will provide an unparalleled resource for researchers, reporters, and the voting public on how ballot measures have evolved, the issues they've covered, and the role they have played in our civic life.
Contents
Notable topics
- South Dakota was the first state that had voters decide on the initiative and referendum process. In 1898, voters approved an amendment establishing the initiative and referendum process in the state.
- South Dakota voters decided on women's suffrage seven times—the most of any state. The first six times, voters rejected women's suffrage amendments, with the first appearing on the ballot in 1890. Voters finally approved an amendment granting women the right to vote in 1918.
- In 1918, voters approved four state-enterprise related amendments, providing for the state to produce, develop, or sell coal, cement, grain, and water power.
- Voters approved a right-to-work measure in 1946, which included the right-to-work in the state Bill of Rights.
- In 1972, voters decided on an amendment that provided for the right for citizens to initiate constitutional amendments and constitutional conventions, providing for initiated constitutional amendments to begin in the state.
- Voters decided five measures related to gaming and wagering proceeds to go to the historic restoration and preservation of Deadwood, a town known for its gold rush history. Voters approved the first amendment authorizing gambling in Deadwood in 1988, and most recently approved legalizing sports betting in Deadwood in 2020.
- In 1992, voters approved an amendment establishing term limits for state offices, as well as for U.S. House and U.S. Senate terms. In 1995, the U.S. congressional term limits were nullified by the U.S. Supreme Court in the U.S. Term Limits v. Thornton decision.[1]
- Voters decided on marijuana six times in the state. Voters approved medical marijuana in the state in 2020, after rejecting it twice in 2006 and 2010. In 2020, voters also approved legalizing recreational marijuana. However, this measure was overturned in 2021, with a Circuit Court ruling that the measure violated the state's single subject law. The next two attempts to legalize marijuana in the state in 2022 and 2024 were rejected by voters.
- Measures related to lobbying and campaign finance reform appeared on the ballot three times in South Dakota. Voters defeated a measure in 2008 which would have prohibited the use of tax funds for lobbying or campaigning, but approved a measure in 2016 that revised state campaign finance and lobbying laws and created a publicly funded campaign finance program and an ethics commission. In 2018, voters rejected an amendment which would have revised campaign finance and lobbying laws, creating an accountability board, and prohibiting legislative changes to initiatives without voter approval.
- Abortion appeared on the ballot three times in South Dakota, and all measures were rejected in the state.
- First, in 2006, voters rejected a referendum which would have enabled HB 1215, which prohibited abortion in the state with exceptions for saving the life of the pregnant woman.
- An abortion ban measure appeared again on the ballot in 2008, and was rejected by voters.
- In 2024, voters rejected an amendment which would have provided a constitutional right to an abortion using trimester framework for regulation.
- Voters approved an amendment expanding Medicaid in 2022. This amendment required the state to expand Medicaid to adults between 18 and 65 with incomes below 138% of the federal poverty level.
Statistics
Closest and widest margins
Of the 366 ballot measures, 12 were decided by less than a percentage point of the vote. These five closest measures are below:
| Closest vote margins for South Dakota statewide ballot measures, 1889-2024 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measure | Year | Yes votes | No votes | Vote margin | Outcome | ||
| # | % | # | % | ||||
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The following five measures had the widest vote margins by percentage:
| Widest vote margins for South Dakota statewide ballot measures, 1889-2024 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measure | Year | Yes votes | No votes | Vote margin | Outcome | ||
| # | % | # | % | ||||
| d | |||||||
| a | |||||||
| d | |||||||
| a | |||||||
| d | |||||||
South Dakota ballot measure topics
South Dakota ballot measures have addressed 131 unique topics with some addressing multiple topics in one measure. The top 15 most common topics addressed are:
- Public education funding (38 measures)
- Property taxes (24 measures)
- Business regulations (24 measures)
- State legislative authority (21 measures)
- Restricted-use funds (19 measures)
- Local government organization (19 measures)
- Initiative and referendum process (18 measures)
- Salaries of government officials (18 measures)
- Public education governance (14 measures)
- Agriculture policy (14 measures)
- Public land policy (14 measures)
- Alcohol laws (13 measures)
- Debt limits (13 measures)
- State executive powers and duties (13 measures)
- Administrative organization (13 measures)
By the decade
The decade with the most ballot measures was the 1910s, which featured 55 ballot measures. Of these, 23 were approved, and 32 were defeated. In the 1880s, two ballot measures were approved. Besides the 1880s, the decade that had the highest approval rate was the 1900s, which featured 18 measures—13 were approved, five were defeated. The decade with the lowest approval rating was the 1920s. In the 1920s, there have been 23 ballot measures—two were approved and 21 were defeated.
By type
- See also: Types of ballot measures in South Dakota
There are nine different types of ballot measures in South Dakota. Legislatively referred constitutional amendments have appeared on the ballot the most number of times (230). Legislatively referred constitutional amendments had the highest approval rating, with 51.3% approved. Indirect initiated state statutes had the lowest success rate, with seven measures (24.14%) approved and 22 (75.86%) defeated.
Legislatively referred measures have had better success at the ballot box than citizen-initiated measures. Legislatively referred measures were approved 50.6% of the time, as compared to 30.5% for ballot initiatives.
Background
Citizen-initiated ballot measures
In South Dakota, citizens have the power to initiate constitutional amendments, state statutes, and veto referendums. In 1898, voters adopted a constitutional amendment allowing for initiated statutes and veto referendums. In 1972, voters approved a revised constitution, which included the power to initiate constitutional amendments. The number of signatures needed to place a measure on the ballot is based on the total number of votes cast for the governor in the preceding election.
The following are the requirements for the types of citizen-initiated measures in South Dakota:
- initiated constitutional amendment (ICA): 10 percent of the votes cast for governor
- initiated state statute (ISS): 5 percent of the votes cast for governor
- veto referendum (VR): 5 percent of the votes cast for governor
Legislatively referred ballot measures
In South Dakota, the state legislature has the power to refer constitutional amendments to the ballot.
A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for the South Dakota State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
