South Dakota 2008 ballot measures

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Seven statewide ballot measures were on the November 4, 2008 ballot in South Dakota.

• Four of the measures were legislatively referred constitutional amendments.
• Three of the measures were initiated state statutes.
• One of the measures was approved.
• Six of the measures were defeated.

In addition, there were two county level measures voted on in the June 3, 2008 primary election.

Endorsements

For a look at how the media in South Dakota feels about these ballot measures, please see endorsements of South Dakota ballot measures.

National overview

2008 ballot measures

Ballot Initiative Report, 2008

State-by-state chart

2008 ballot measure lawsuits

On the ballot

See also: Petition drive deadlines in 2008 and List of South Dakota ballot measures. November 4, 2008

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment A	Income taxes	Enact a graduated individual income tax	a	50,970 (67%)	25,047 (33%)
LRCA	Amendment B	Judiciary	Allow the Legislature to select a replacement judge for the Supreme Court when a judge is disqualified from the proceedings	a	41,646 (63%)	24,778 (37%)
LRCA	Amendment C	Public land	Reduce the down payment on the sales of school lands	a	45,809 (68%)	21,855 (32%)
LRCA	Amendment D	Salaries	Increase the salaries of state officials		26,784 (39%)	42,779 (61%)
LRCA	Amendment F	Fossil fuels; Mineral resources; Business	Allow the state mine, distribute, and sell coal	a	40,632 (61%)	25,922 (39%)
LRCA	Amendment G	Debt limits	Allow the state to incur debt for internal improvement	a	42,097 (63%)	24,424 (37%)
LRCA	Amendment H	Debt limits	Allow the state to incur debt for internal improvement	a	34,821 (56%)	27,886 (44%)
LRCA	Amendment I	Hydroelectric	Allow the state to develop and provide water power	a	41,658 (63%)	24,429 (37%)
LRCA	Amendment J	Business	Allow the state to produce and sell cement	a	38,108 (60%)	25,702 (40%)
LRCA	Amendment K	Storm infrastructure; Agriculture; Insurance; Property taxes	Declare hail insurance a public purpose and allow the Legislature to levy assessments on agricultural land to provide hail insurance	a	41,162 (61%)	25,896 (39%)
LRCA	Amendment L	Agriculture; Business	Allow the state to construct and maintain grain elevators and warehouses and to do business with the flour and meat-packing business.	a	41,292 (62%)	25,545 (38%)
IndISS	Initiated Law 1	Election administration; Primary elections	Decrease the cost of primary elections, and hold government parties more accountable	a	47,891 (58%)	34,705 (42%)
LRCA	Women's Suffrage Amendment	Sex and gender; Suffrage	Provides for women's suffrage in state constitution	a	49,318 (63%)	28,934 (37%)

Local measures

June 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
VR	Ordinance 2008-1	Taxes	Enforces a wheel tax in McPherson County	d
VR	Ordinance 2008-001	Business Regulation	Builds an Oil Refinery in Union County	a

Failed to make the 2008 ballot

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CISS	Tax Alcohol	Alcohol	Increase tax on alcohol, use money to fund programs
CISS	Home from Iraq	War and peace	Would end US occupation in Iraq
CISS	Lower the Drinking Age	Alcohol	Lower drinking age to 19 for drinks containing 3.2% alcohol or less
CISS	Kids and Teachers First	Education	Add a new section to the South Dakota Kids and Teachers First Transparency Act
CISS	Protect Private Property	Eminent domain	Overturn Senate Bill 174

See also

• 2008 ballot measures
• List of South Dakota ballot measures
• History of Initiative & Referendum in South Dakota

External links

• South Dakota Secretary of State: Historical ballot measures and election results
• South Dakota Political Almanac, South Dakota Constitutional Amendments, Initiatives and Referendums 1970-2010
• South Dakota Secretary of State: Historical Election Data
• South Dakota Secretary of State, 2008 South Dakota Primary Election

Additional reading

• 7 measures on South Dakota ballot