Proposing and submitting to the voters at the next general election an amendment to the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, requiring a number of signatures on a petition to initiate a constitutional amendment be obtained from each county.
If enacted, SJR504 would fundamentally change the process by which residents can propose changes to the state constitution. It aims to distribute the requirement for signatures more evenly across all counties, which could enhance county-level participation in the constitutional amendment process. This approach may lead to a more equitable representation of diverse regions within South Dakota, as it prevents a scenario where heavily populated areas dominate the signature-gathering process.
SJR504, introduced by Senator Pischke, is a proposed joint resolution that seeks to amend the Constitution of the State of South Dakota. The primary objective of this legislation is to require that any petition to initiate a constitutional amendment must gather signatures from each county in the state. Specifically, the amendment stipulates that the number of signatures must equal at least two percent of the total votes cast for Governor during the previous gubernatorial election from each senatorial district. Additionally, the total number of signatures for the petition must represent at least ten percent of the total votes cast for Governor in that election.
Notably, there may be points of contention regarding this proposed amendment. Critics might argue that imposing a county-specific signature requirement could hinder the ability of citizens to initiate amendments, especially for issues more relevant to urban areas that might not resonate as strongly in rural districts. Proponents, conversely, would likely advocate for this change as a means of ensuring that all voices across the state are heard, promoting a broader consensus on significant changes to the constitution.