According to the secretary of states website, South Dakota was the first state to empower its citizens to enact legislation and reject laws through the initiative and referendum process (circulating petitions and collecting signatures from registered voters across the state). This right was granted in 1898 through a constitutional amendment, based on the idea that the legislature might not always adequately represent the people. Since that time, the people have voted on 366 ballot measures, approved 160 of them and rejected 206. We certainly have made use of the process when we felt the need.
During the 1970s and 1980s, this power was expanded twice. In more recent years, the legislature has passed laws significantly curtailing that power. Should we be concerned?
This question will be explored during a program sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the Brookings Area on Sept. 29 from 6 to 7:15 p.m. at the Brookings Public Library. (Brown Bags are welcome.)
Reynold Nesiba, former state senator and economics professor at Augustana University, will discuss a South Dakota Law Review article on this topic, coauthored by Cory Heidelberger, Teagan McNary and Nesiba: Have Recent Legislative Changes in South Dakota Made Using the Initiated Measure Process More Difficult? (Volume 70, Issue 3, 2025).
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in our democracy.
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