Backers of eight ballot measures ranging from allowing medical marijuana to instituting nonpartisan elections in South Dakota have submitted petitions to put the plans before voters next year. Secretary of State Shantel Krebs said in a statement Tuesday that it will likely take her office until Jan. 1 to review the proposals. The ballot questions include four initiated measures and four constitutional amendments that were submitted by the Monday deadline. Supporters had to provide at least 13,871 signatures for initiated measures and at least 27,741 for amendments. The office looks at signatures and petition completeness as part of its review before the measures appear on the ballot. Several other measures are already set to go before voters in 2016.
Backers of the Marsy’s Law ballot measure want to expand the rights of crime victims during court proceedings and criminal trials and enshrine those rights in the South Dakota Constitution. For example, the proposal guarantees that a victim can be present in court and ensures victims are heard in all stages of criminal proceedings including plea agreements, which otherwise might be offered without their consultation.
The proposal would amend the state constitution so that a commission redraws the state’s legislative districts. Currently, the Legislature redraws the boundaries of legislative districts every decade to reflect population changes reported by the census.
The proposal would create a commission made up of nine registered voters selected each redistricting year. No more than three commission members could be part of the same political party.
Full Article: SD activists submit 8 ballot measures to secretary of state.