2026 South Dakota Amendment L
November 3, 2026
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60% Vote Requirement for Constitutional Amendments Measure |
| Elections in South Dakota |
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South Dakota Amendment L, officially the 60% Vote Requirement for Constitutional Amendments Measure, is an legislatively referred constitutional amendment that will appear on the ballot in the U.S. state of South Dakota on November 3, 2026, concurrent with the 2026 United States elections.
Background
| House vote on HJR 5003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 22, 2025 |
Party | Total votes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Republican | Democratic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yea | 60 | 1 | 61 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nay | 0 | 5 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No vote | 3 | 0 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Result: Passed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Roll call vote[1]
All other votes are Republican yeas. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senate vote on HJR 5003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 10, 2025 |
Party | Total votes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Republican | Democratic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yea | 29 | 0 | 29 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nay | 2 | 2 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No vote | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Result: Passed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Roll call vote[2]
All other votes are Republican yeas. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Currently in South Dakota, constitutional amendments can be placed on the ballot by the South Dakota Legislature. Voters can approve or reject amendments if the amendment reaches 50% of votes cast. Amendment L was first placed on the ballot after it was approved by the legislature in early 2025.[3]
Impact
If approved by voters, the threshold that amendments must reach to be approved would be raised from 50% to 60%.[4]
Campaign
The Voter Defense Association of South Dakota launched a campaign against the amendment in May 2025. The president of the organization argued that raising the threshold would weaken the ballot initiative process.[5]
Endorsements
- State legislators
- John Hughes, state representative from the 13th district (2025–present) (Republican)[3]
- 11 other state representatives[6]
- John Carley, state senator from the 29th district (Republican)[6]
- 7 other state senators[6]
- Organizations
References
- ^ "HJR 5003, House of Representatives, Do Pass Amended - 2025". South Dakota Legislature. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
- ^ "HJR 5003, Senate, Do Pass Amended - 2025". South Dakota Legislature. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
- ^ a b c Huber, Makenzie (May 15, 2025). "Raising constitutional amendment vote threshold would backfire, says newly formed opposition group". South Dakota Searchlight. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
- ^ Green, Grant (May 15, 2025). "Voter Defense Association begins 2026 election campaign against Amendment L". Dakota News Now. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
- ^ Dominik, Dausch (May 15, 2025). "New Amendment L campaign enables 'low-minded' changes to SD Constitution, lawmaker says". Argus Leader. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
- ^ a b c "South Dakota Constitutional Amendment L, 60% Vote Requirement for Constitutional Amendments Measure (2026) Supporters and Opponents". Ballotpedia.