Low Turnout Means Ballot Question Petitioners Need 13% Fewer Signatures

We should never celebrate low voter turnout. The more people who vote, the more accurately the results reflect the real will of the people.

But South Dakota’s sharp drop in voter turnout offers one small consolation to those who cherish civic participation: candidates and ballot question petitioners will be able to qualify for the ballot with fewer signatures in 2028 and 2030!

South Dakota bases petition signature requirements on votes cast for Governor in the general election. The Secretary of State reports that 305,568 South Dakotans cast votes for either Larry Rhoden or Dan Ahlers. If that figure holds up in the official canvass next week, the signature thresholds for petitions will drop significantly:

Note that the major parties have rigged election laws to disfavor independents. Signature requirements for Republicans and Democrats are based on the number of votes their own gubernatorial candidates win the general election; independent candidates have to collect signatures equaling 1% of the total gubernatorial vote, all candidates together.

Statewide initiatives and referenda will need 13% fewer signatures to qualify for the ballot in 2028 and 2030 than they did in the last two election cycles. Independents running for statewide office will enjoy a similar discount. Republicans running for Congress or Governor will need 10.9% fewer signatures, while their Democratic challengers will need 9.7% fewer signatures.

Naturally, candidates and sponsors should aim for at least a 20% cushion to cover inevitable petition errors. Rounding generously, I recommend that Brenda Anderson aim for at least 19,000 signatures on her raw-milk-deregulation initiative. Constitutional amenders should set 37,000 as their skin-of-the-teeth minimum goal.