(11/8/2006)

Pro-Family Election Results a Mixed Bag in South Dakota

Abortion ban and video lottery repeal lost, marriage safe

BY BOB ELLIS

DAKOTA VOICE

Volunteers watch election results at the VoteYesForLife.com office in Rapid City

SOUTH DAKOTA—Voter turnout in South Dakota was high this November 7, ranging as high as 81.1% in one county. 

Reports from attorney Steve Wesolick, an election observer, indicated voting went well in the Black Hills area with none of the irregularities reported in some other states.

Amendment C, the marriage protection amendment to South Dakota's constitution, appears set to win with 52% of the vote.  According to reports, Virginia passed a similar marriage protection measure with 58%, Wisconsin with 58%, 70% in Idaho, 78% in South Carolina, and 81% in Tennessee.  Opponents of traditional marriage hit the marriage protection amendments hard in South Dakota, Wisconsin and Virginia with claims that heterosexuals could lose certain privileges under these measures, undermining the traditionally overwhelming votes for traditional marriage.

Referred Law 6, South Dakota's abortion ban, did not fare as well, however.  While there was initially some movement in favor of the ban early on, most of the evening the vote remained solidly at 55% against with no movement. 

Despite the tremendous effort of VoteYesForLife.com, the official campaign in support of the abortion ban, and support from the South Dakota Family Policy Council and hundreds of churches across the state, many voters were uncomfortable with the ban which only allowed an exception to save the life of the mother.  Section 3 of Referred Law 6 had a provision which would have allowed rape victims to take emergency contraceptives, but many voters insisted on the right to kill the child conceived in rape. 

Chances for a less restrictive abortion bill being proposed and approved by the next legislature remain to be seen at this point, since the pro-life makeup of the new legislature has yet to be determined.

Initiated Measure 7, the video lottery repeal, also met defeat, with 67% of the voters rejecting it.  Supporters of the repeal had argued that not only is the social cost of video lottery too high, but that the $112 million in revenue the state receives from video lottery could be replaced without substantial loss of services.  Voters appeared to disagree, however.

Two other tax-related measures also failed to pass.  Amendment D, which would have changed how property taxes are assessed, received only 20% support, and Initiated Measure 8, which would have repealed the gross receipts tax on cell phones, was also rejected by a vote of 61% to 39%, perhaps signaling that voters did not want to risk losing government services through tax reductions. 

Regarding candidates, Governor Mike Rounds waltzed to an easy 62% victory, while Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth retained her seat in the U.S. House with a vote of 69%.