By Carleen Wild
Moody County Enterprise
If you’ve ever voted on something statewide — like a ballot question or amendment — a proposed change could make it a lot harder for those to pass in South Dakota.
Right now, most ballot measures require a simple majority to be approved. But a proposal from the 2025 South Dakota Legislature would raise that bar, requiring at least 60 percent of the vote for any future constitutional amendment or revision to pass.
The shift isn’t insignificant. The change, many believe, could make it harder for citizen-led or legislatively referred amendments to clear the finish line.
As required by state law, Marty Jackley and his office have drafted a plain-language explanation of the proposal. The goal isn’t to argue for or against it, but to give voters a clear understanding of what a “yes” or “no” vote would actually mean.
That draft explanation has now been filed with the Secretary of State’s Office — and you have a chance to weigh in.
The public has 10 days to comment on the wording of that explanation (not the proposal itself). The deadline is May 11, with a final version due May 19. That final explanation is what will appear alongside the measure on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot.
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