A constitutional amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot would raise the threshold for passing such measures.
No.
Every ballot measure passed in the past five years only passed with a simple majority, and none surpassed 60%.
Currently in South Dakota, a simple majority is needed to pass a ballot measure, which is a law, issue or question that appears on a statewide or local ballot for voters of that jurisdiction to decide.
If passed, Amendment L, which will appear on the ballot on Nov. 3, would require 60% of the vote to pass constitutional amendments.
Four of 13 proposed measures have passed since 2020. The last ballot measure to pass with over 60% of the vote established a medical marijuana program in South Dakota for individuals with a debilitating medical condition. It passed in 2020 with 70% of the vote.
North Dakota and Utah voters will also have the choice to raise the bar for constitutional amendments to 60% in November.
Sources
Ballotpedia, List of South Dakota ballot measures
Ballotpedia, South Dakota Initiated Measure 26, Medical Marijuana Initiative (2020)
National Conference of State Legislatures, Initiative and Referendum Processes
State Court Report, Constitutional Amendment Processes in the 50 States
Election Law Blog, “Some states will ask voters to make it harder to pass constitutional amendments”
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