(11/7/2006)

South Dakotans Tackle Busy Ballot Today

Voters face 11 ballot issues in addition to the candidates

BY BOB ELLIS

DAKOTA VOICE

SOUTH DAKOTA—Polls are now open across the state of South Dakota in both Central and Mountain time zones, and voters are off to the races!

Many South Dakotans have already voted absentee on a host of issues and candidates, and many more will be going to the polls in the coming hours to make some important decisions for our state.

South Dakotans are voting on their lone representative in the United States House of Representatives for the next two years. Their choices are incumbent Rep. Stephanie Herseth of Brookings (D) and challengers Bruce Whalen of Pine Ridge (R)  and Larry Rudebush of Bruce (L).

For governor and lieutenant governor of South Dakota: incumbents Mike Rounds and Dennis Daugaard (R), Jack Billion and Eric Abrahamson (D), Steven Willis and Larry Johnsen (Constitution), and Tom Gerber and Betty Rose Ryan (Libertarian).

For attorney general: incumbent Larry Long (R), Ron Volesky (D), and Randy Ristesund (L).

For Commissioner of School and Public Lands: incumbent Bryce Healy (D), Jarrod Johnson (R), and Jade Ager (L).

For Public Utilities Commissioner: John Koskan (R), Steve Kolbeck (D), and Ben Sutter (L).

In addition to legislative candidates across the various districts of South Dakota, voters are also deciding the retention of South Dakota Supreme Court justices John K. Konenkamp, Richard W. Sabers, Steven L. Zinter, Judith, K. Meierhenry, and David Gilbertson. These are simple yes/no retention votes.

Several circuit court judgeships are competitive this year; see your local county courthouse or county website for more information.

November 7 is also the day of decision for four proposed amendments to the South Dakota Constitution, six initiated measures, and one referred law.

The first constitutional amendment, Amendment C, is related to the definition of marriage in South Dakota. Because of judicial activism where judges have “overruled” state laws in an attempt to allow homosexual “marriage,” it was considered necessary to pass this bill in the legislature and send it to the voters for approval this election. The text of Amendment C reads, “Only marriage between a man and a woman shall be valid or recognized in South Dakota. The uniting of two or more persons in a civil union, domestic partnership, or other quasi-marital relationship shall not be valid or recognized in South Dakota.”

Amendment D deals with property tax assessments and how property is valued. In short, Amendment D specifies that property may be annually adjusted by not more than 3%, unless there is a change in the use or classification of the property; or any addition, improvement or destruction of the property.

Amendment E is the J.A.I.L. initiative designed to provide greater accountability for judicial misconduct. The proposed amendment is 2,119 words long, so inclusion of the text here is not feasible, but every voter should read the initiative at the Secretary of State’s website (www.sdsos.gov).

Amendment F is likewise extensive, but in short it concerns revisions to the South Dakota constitution as recommended by a constitutional revision committee. For the most part, it deals with outdated language and provisions within the constitution that need to be updated. Read more about Amendment F at www.sdsos.gov also.

Initiated Measure 2 would increase the tax on tobacco products. The price of a pack of cigarettes would go up by a dollar for the tax.

Initiated Measure 3 would change the school start date to the last day of August.

Initiated Measure 4 would allow the medical use of marijuana in South Dakota. However, federal drug law still outlaws the possession or use of marijuana for any purpose, so a person could still be prosecuted under federal law, as has been done in other states that have legalized medical marijuana use such as California.

Initiated Measure 5 restricts the use of state aircraft for state business. There are certain exceptions for the governor and law enforcement personnel, but this measure would allow no exceptions.

Initiated Measure 7 would repeal video lottery in South Dakota. Instituted in 1989, video lottery earned $220 million last year, and the state’s take was 50%. Opponents question how the $110 in the state budget could be replaced, but proponents of the repeal say it could be replaced by a half-cent sales tax and by “cutting the fat” in the budget.

Initiated Measure 8 would repeal the 4% gross receipts tax on cell phones.

Finally, Referred Law 6 is the South Dakota abortion ban, passed as HB 1215 by a bipartisan majority of the legislature this past session. The law was set to go into effect in July, but opponents of the abortion ban obtained enough petition signatures to refer it to a vote in the election. The law would ban most abortions in South Dakota, except for those necessary to save the life of the mother. The law would also allow the use of emergency contraceptives after a rape.