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Ballot question campaigns in South Dakota had collectively spent about $7 million this year by their Oct. 21 reporting deadline, according to a South Dakota Searchlight analysis.
And they’ve likely spent millions more since then that won’t be fully disclosed until the next spending reports in January.
There are seven statewide ballot questions under consideration by South Dakotans in the Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election.
MORE: Referred Law 21 aims to superseded pipeline bill passed by Legislature
Groups campaigning for an open primary system were the top spenders as of the deadline, committing approximately $1.6 million to sway voters toward a “yes” on Amendment H.
The amendment would change future primary elections so that all candidates, regardless of party, would be on a single ballot open to all voters. The top two vote-getters would advance to the general election. The top four would advance in races with two winners, such as state House districts.
The “no” groups on abortion rights had spent about $1.5 million to defeat the measure by the reporting deadline.
Abortion is currently banned in the state, with one exception for abortions necessary to save the life of the mother. Amendment G would legalize abortion while allowing for restrictions in the second trimester of pregnancy and a ban in the third trimester, with mandatory exceptions to protect the life or health of the pregnant woman.
Supporters of a law containing new regulations on carbon dioxide pipelines, Referred Law 21, had spent more than $1.4 million to secure “yes” votes by the filing deadline.
MORE: Amendment G would establish right to abortion in state constitution
The law would establish financial and other protections for landowners and counties affected by pipelines. It would also help maintain a regulatory path forward for a carbon capture pipeline supported by the ethanol industry and opposed by some landowners along the route.
Supporters of adult marijuana legalization, Initiated Measure 29, had spent more than $920,000 by the filing deadline.
Beyond these top-spending groups, several others reported expenditures below $400,000.
One of those was Dakotans for Health, a ballot question committee supporting both the abortion rights measure, which is Amendment G, and Initiated Measure 28, which the group describes as a repeal of state sales taxes on groceries. The group reported expenditures of more than $270,000 at the filing deadline, without distinguishing expenses for one campaign or the other.
MORE: Tuesday is Election Day, absentee voting numbers strong in Brown County
Ballot question committees are required to file supplemental reports about fundraising in the days leading up to the election. Those reports have reflected significant recent activity, such as $500,000 contributions from out-of-state groups for both the pro and con sides of the abortion measure.
Further committee reports detailing spending aren’t due until Jan. 31, 2025.
2024 election Abortion ballot measure carbon capture elections open primaries pipelines politics South Dakota vote voters voting
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Seven Ballot Measures, $7 Million And Counting: Reports Reveal Total Spending – Aberdeen Insider
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