Jump to content

2024 South Dakota Amendment G

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2024 South Dakota Amendment G

November 5, 2024
Right to Abortion Initiative
Results
Choice
Votes %
Yes 176,809 41.41%
No 250,136 58.59%
Valid votes 426,945 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 0 0.00%
Total votes 426,945 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 624,186 68.4%

County results

South Dakota Amendment G was a proposed constitutional amendment that appeared on the ballot on November 5, 2024. If passed, the amendment would have established a right to abortion in the Constitution of South Dakota up until approximately the beginning of the third trimester[nb 1] of pregnancy.[2] The amendment failed to pass, making it the second referendum about abortion since Dobbs to come out as anti-abortion and preserve the state's ban.[3]

Text

[edit]

That Article VI of the Constitution of the State of South Dakota be amended by adding a NEW SECTION:[4]

Before the end of the first trimester, the State may not regulate a pregnant woman's abortion decision and its effectuation, which must be left to the judgment of the pregnant woman.

After the end of the first trimester and until the end of the second trimester, the State may regulate the pregnant woman's abortion decision and its effectuation only in ways that are reasonably related to the physical health of the pregnant woman.

After the end of the second trimester, the State may regulate or prohibit abortion, except when abortion is necessary, in the medical judgment of the woman's physician, to preserve the life and health of the pregnant woman.

Background

[edit]

South Dakota's abortion laws

[edit]

In the 19th century, bans by state legislatures on abortion were about protecting the life of the mother given the number of deaths caused by abortions; state governments saw themselves as looking out for the lives of their citizens.[5] South Dakota's first ban on abortion was passed in 1877.[6] It read:

“Every person who administers to any pregnant woman, or who prescribes for any such woman, or advises or procures any such woman to take any medicine, drug or substance, or uses or employs any instrument, or other means whatever with intent thereby to procure the miscarriage of such woman, unless the same is necessary to preserve her life, is punishable by imprisonment in the territorial prison not exceeding three years, or in a county jail not exceeding one year.”

By 1950, the state legislature had passed a law stating that a woman who had an abortion or actively sought to have an abortion, regardless of whether she went through with it, was guilty of a criminal offense.[5] In 1972, the South Dakota Supreme Court unanimously upheld the constitutionality of the state's abortion ban in State v. Munson.[7] Munson was overruled less than a year later due to the United States Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade.[8]

In 2005, the South Dakota Legislature enacted a trigger ban on abortion, which would ban abortion if Roe v. Wade was overturned.[9] A year later, Governor Mike Rounds signed the Women's Health and Human Life Protection Act, a second total ban on abortion, into law. The law's ultimate goal was for the United States Supreme Court to overrule Roe.[10] The act was ultimately repealed later that year through a ballot initiative led by Planned Parenthood.[11]

In June 2022, Planned Parenthood announced it would no longer provide abortion services in the state due to the pending decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. This left the state with no abortion provider until the court's decision a week later.[12] After the court's decision in Dobbs, the state's trigger ban went into effect immediately.[13]

Ballot measure submission

[edit]

In 2022, Dakotans for Health, the group sponsoring the initiative, filed the amendment with Steve Barnett, the then-South Dakota Secretary of State. Barnett approved the measure for circulation on September 19, 2022.[14] On May 1, 2024, the group submitted some 55,000 signatures, well over the 35,000 needed to gain ballot access.[15] South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson certified the petition on May 17, 2024.[16]

Campaign

[edit]

Comments by Governor Kristi Noem

[edit]

Before the organizers submitted the required signatures for the initiative, South Dakota's governor Kristi Noem had garnered controversy for her position on the state's abortion ban. In particular, her defense of the ban's lack of exceptions for rape and incest have been viewed as controversial.[17] In response to a video Donald Trump made regarding his position that the states should decide on abortion access, Noem echoed this sentiment and remarked, "Different states will make different decisions on Life. What voters want in South Dakota might be different than what voters want in California. South Dakota is proud to stand for LIFE and support babies, moms, and families."[18]

Shortly after this post, Noem reaffirmed this belief by saying, "The people will vote and they’ll decide what our state [abortion] law looks like...We get so much arguing and finger pointing. I’d rather that people just go out and have conversations. We, clearly, in the pro-life community, need to win people’s hearts and minds and that starts with loving people and helping mothers in crisis."[19] Noem also recognized that she would not have the last say on abortion access in the state, acknowledging that she "doesn’t get to be a dictator" on the laws.[19]

Gestational limitation

[edit]

South Dakota's current abortion law outlaws all abortions with few exceptions. The proposed amendment's language is based on the trimester framework originally in the 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade.[20] At the time, fetal viability was generally regarded to occur around 28 weeks gestation.[21] However, viability is now considered to be closer to around 23–24 weeks.[22] Additionally, the trimester framework in Roe was overturned in 1992 in Planned Parenthood v. Casey.[23] As a result, there have been questions and misinformation about the gestational limitations of Amendment G. Opponents of the amendment have argued this would allow abortions until the moment of birth.[24] Similarly, abortion rights groups have argued that the initiative does not go far enough in allowing abortion.[25]

Endorsements

[edit]
Endorsements for Amendment G

Prominent Leaders

State Senators

  • Stan Adelstein, former state senator from the 32nd district (2005-2007, 2009-2013) (Republican)[29]
  • Nancy Turbak Berry, former state senator from the 5th district (2006-2010) (Democrat)[30]
  • Reynold Nesiba, Minority Leader of the South Dakota Senate (2023–2025) and state senator from the 15th district (2017–2025) (Democrat)[31]

State Representatives

  • Linda Duba, state representative from the 15th district (2019–present) (Democrat)[32]
  • Oren Lesmeister, Minority Leader of the South Dakota House of Representatives (2023–2025) and state representative from the 28A district (2017–2025) (Democrat)[16]
  • Casey Murschel, former state representative from the 12th District (2001–2007) (Republican)[33]

Organizations

Against Amendment G

Statewide officials

  • Kristi Noem, 33rd Governor of South Dakota (2019–2025) (Republican)[40]
  • Mike Rounds, U.S. Senator from South Dakota (2015-present) (Republican)[41]
  • John Thune, U.S. Senator from South Dakota (2005-present) (Republican)[40]

State Representatives

  • Jon Hansen, state representative from the 25th district (2011-2013, 2019–present) (Republican)[42]

Individuals

Organizations

Polling

[edit]
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Yes No Undecided
Emerson College/Nexstar Media[48] October 19–22, 2024 825 (LV) ± 3.3% 45% 48% 7%
Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy[49] May 10–13, 2024 500 (RV) ± 4.5% 53% 35% 11%
Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy[50] November 27–29, 2023 500 (RV) ± 4.5% 46% 44% 11%

Results

[edit]
2024 South Dakota Amendment G
ChoiceVotes%
For176,80941.41
Against250,13658.59
Total426,945100.00
Source: Secretary of State of South Dakota

By county

[edit]
County[51] No Yes Margin Total
# % # % # %
Aurora 1,091 77.98% 308 22.02% 783 55.97% 1,399
Beadle 4,543 64.93% 2,454 35.07% 2,089 29.86% 6,997
Bennett 660 61.97% 405 38.03% 255 23.94% 1,065
Bon Homme 2,203 73.63% 789 26.37% 1,414 47.26% 2,992
Brookings 8,040 53.72% 6,927 46.28% 1,113 7.44% 14,967
Brown 9,990 58.83% 6,990 41.17% 3,000 17.67% 16,980
Brule 1,681 69.06% 753 30.94% 928 38.13% 2,434
Buffalo 231 50.66% 225 49.34% 6 1.32% 456
Butte 3,378 67.13% 1,654 32.87% 1,724 34.26% 5,032
Campbell 633 76.63% 193 23.37% 440 53.27% 826
Charles Mix 2,621 72.54% 992 27.46% 1,629 45.09% 3,613
Clark 1,329 73.22% 486 26.78% 843 46.45% 1,815
Clay 2,453 43.39% 3,201 56.61% −748 −13.23% 5,654
Codington 8,451 63.17% 4,927 36.83% 3,524 26.34% 13,378
Corson 726 64.71% 396 35.29% 330 29.41% 1,122
Custer 3,658 61.51% 2,289 38.49% 1,369 23.02% 5,947
Davison 5,934 64.99% 3,197 35.01% 2,737 29.97% 9,131
Day 1,813 62.28% 1,098 37.72% 715 24.56% 2,911
Deuel 1,611 70.66% 669 29.34% 942 41.32% 2,280
Dewey 913 49.54% 930 50.46% −17 −0.92% 1,843
Douglas 1,442 87.29% 210 12.71% 1,232 74.58% 1,652
Edmunds 1,581 77.61% 456 22.39% 1,125 55.23% 2,037
Fall River 2,744 64.66% 1,500 35.34% 1,244 29.31% 4,244
Faulk 914 80.67% 219 19.33% 695 61.34% 1,133
Grant 2,563 70.88% 1,053 29.12% 1,510 41.76% 3,616
Gregory 1,728 76.87% 520 23.13% 1,208 53.74% 2,248
Haakon 950 84.67% 172 15.33% 778 69.34% 1,122
Hamlin 2,474 76.76% 749 23.24% 1,725 53.52% 3,223
Hand 1,338 75.98% 423 24.02% 915 51.96% 1,761
Hanson 1,514 74.91% 507 25.09% 1,007 49.83% 2,021
Harding 666 82.32% 143 17.68% 523 64.65% 809
Hughes 4,912 57.75% 3,593 42.25% 1,319 15.51% 8,505
Hutchinson 2,937 78.76% 792 21.24% 2,145 57.52% 3,729
Hyde 522 74.89% 175 25.11% 347 49.78% 697
Jackson 766 68.58% 351 31.42% 415 37.15% 1,117
Jerauld 678 68.28% 315 31.72% 363 36.56% 993
Jones 432 78.12% 121 21.88% 311 56.24% 553
Kingsbury 1,906 68.02% 896 31.98% 1,010 36.05% 2,802
Lake 3,644 61.79% 2,253 38.21% 1,391 23.59% 5,897
Lawrence 8,187 53.56% 7,100 46.44% 1,087 7.11% 15,287
Lincoln 20,549 56.50% 15,823 43.50% 4,726 12.99% 36,372
Lyman 962 66.71% 480 33.29% 482 33.43% 1,442
Marshall 1,278 60.40% 838 39.60% 440 20.79% 2,116
McCook 2,207 72.27% 847 27.73% 1,360 44.53% 3,054
McPherson 1,034 80.28% 254 19.72% 780 60.56% 1,288
Meade 9,192 62.86% 5.430 37.14% 3,762 25.73% 14,622
Mellette 443 60.03% 295 39.97% 148 20.05% 738
Miner 827 72.04% 321 27.96% 506 44.08% 1,148
Minnehaha 47,920 51.23% 45,627 48.77% 2,293 2.45% 93,547
Moody 2,015 62.83% 1,192 37.17% 823 25.66% 3,207
Oglala Lakota 980 32.67% 2,020 67.33% −1,040 −34.67% 3,000
Pennington 29,696 52.94% 26,400 47.06% 3,296 5.88% 56,096
Perkins 1,240 78.09% 348 21.91% 892 56.17% 1,588
Potter 973 75.37% 318 24.63% 655 50.74% 1,291
Roberts 2,431 59.29% 1,669 40.71% 762 18.59% 4,100
Sanborn 860 71.07% 350 28.93% 510 42.15% 1,210
Spink 2,081 66.74% 1,037 33.26% 1,044 33.48% 3,118
Stanley 1,090 62.93% 642 37.07% 448 25.87% 1,732
Sully 674 74.48% 231 25.52% 443 48.95% 905
Todd 810 38.39% 1,300 61.61% −490 −23.22% 2,110
Tripp 2,024 75.86% 644 24.14% 1,380 51.72% 2,668
Turner 3,210 70.69% 1,331 29.31% 1,879 41.38% 4,541
Union 5,158 58.77% 3,619 41.23% 1,539 17.53% 8,777
Walworth 1,787 73.72% 637 26.28% 1,150 47.44% 2,424
Yankton 6,415 59.51% 4,364 40.49% 2,051 19.03% 10,779
Ziebach 423 53.95% 361 46.05% 62 7.91% 784
Totals250,13658.59%176,80941.41%73,32717.17%426,945

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. Amendment G's text is not explicitly clear on when abortion would be prohibited. The South Dakota Attorney General's opinion suggested it would require judicial review.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. "Final Attorney General's Statement" (PDF). South Dakota Secretary of State. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  2. "South Dakota to decide on abortion rights in fall as ballot initiative advances". The Guardian. May 17, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  3. "South Dakota has rejected an abortion rights measure and voted down recreational marijuana". AP News. November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  4. "Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion" (PDF). South Dakota Secretary of State. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  5. 1 2 Buell, Samuel (January 1, 1991). "Criminal Abortion Revisited". New York University Law Review. 66 (6): 1774–1831. PMID 11652642.
  6. Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Org., No. 19-1392, slip op. at 84 (U.S. June 24, 2022).
  7. "State v. Munson". Justia. September 26, 1972. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  8. "State v. Munson". Justia. April 5, 1973. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  9. "South Dakota". Center for Reproductive Rights. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  10. South Dakota has banned abortion - is your state next? : Indybay
  11. McCann, Allison (May 23, 2017). "Seven states have only one remaining abortion clinic. We talked to the people keeping them open". Vice News. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  12. "Planned Parenthood stops abortion services in South Dakota ahead of Supreme Court action on Dobbs". Argus Leader. June 15, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  13. "South Dakota". Center for Reproductive Rights. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  14. "Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion" (PDF). Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  15. "Group submits 55,000 signatures for abortion-rights ballot question". South Dakota Public Radio. May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  16. 1 2 Dura, Jack (February 22, 2024). "GOP lawmakers try to thwart abortion rights ballot initiative in South Dakota". apnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  17. "Noem defends no exception for rape, incest in South Dakota trigger law: No reason for "another tragedy" to occur". CBS. June 26, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  18. @KristiNoem (April 8, 2024). ".@realDonaldTrump is exactly right… this is about "precious babies." It should be easier for moms, dads, and families to have babies — not harder. Different states will make different decisions on Life. What voters want in South Dakota might be different than what voters want in California. South Dakota is proud to stand for LIFE and support babies, moms, and families" (Tweet) via X (formerly Twitter).
  19. 1 2 "Noem: People will decide on abortion". KELO-TV. April 11, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  20. "Roe v. Wade (1973)". LII / Legal Information Institute.
  21. Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. at 160.
  22. "Fetal viability is at the center of Mississippi abortion case. Here's why". Washington Post. December 1, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  23. Planned Parenthood v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 (1992).
  24. "Learn More About the Abortion Amendment". Life Defense Fund. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  25. 1 2 "This ballot measure would restore Roe. Abortion rights groups are attacking it". Vox. February 26, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  26. 1 2 Daschle, Tom (June 23, 2023). "Ballot Measures: How South Dakota and Florida Could Shape the Future of Abortion Rights". Dakotans for Health. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  27. Cohen, Rachel M. (February 26, 2024). "This ballot measure would restore Roe. Abortion rights groups are attacking it". Vox. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  28. Brown, Elisha (July 27, 2024). "South Dakota father is leading effort to restore abortion rights in the state". South Dakota Searchlight. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  29. "92-Year-Old Republican Senator Condemns Anti-Abortion Activists for Harassing Amendment G Petitioners". YouTube. October 7, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  30. Strubinger, Lee. "Turbak to chair coalition backing abortion ballot question". South Dakota Public Broadcasting. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  31. @ReynoldNesiba (May 14, 2024). "Republicans just cannot stand a fair fight. In SD Rep. Jon Hansen changed the rules on initiated measures. As we predicted, his ilk are now harassing people to prevent the restoration of female bodily autonomy. Let the people vote!" (Tweet) via X (formerly Twitter).
  32. "Linda Duba: "I believe public service is important and the best way to get involved in helping people."". sistersunitedsd.com. Sisters United. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  33. 1 2 Terrall, Gracie (July 10, 2024). "First Republican group to support SD abortion measure".
  34. @ForDakotans (May 16, 2024). "@sodaksos just certified our Freedom Amendment for the 2024 ballot with 85% validity! Despite intense opposition, the people of South Dakota will decide on abortion rights this Fall. Not the politicians. The fight begins now. Vote YES on G! #FreedomAmendment #AbortionRights #roevwade #YesonG" (Tweet) via X (formerly Twitter).
  35. Dakotans for Health (August 15, 2024). "South Dakota League of Women Voters Endorses Amendment G to Restore Roe v. Wade Rights". Dakotans for Health. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  36. Lee Strubinger (July 24, 2024). "Dakotans For Health announce group of doctors supporting Amendment G". South Dakota Public Broadcasting. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  37. "Faith Leaders endorse Freedom Amendment G to end South Dakota's abortion ban". Dakotans for Health. September 23, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  38. "FFRF Action Fund grants support for 11 pro-abortion state referenda". ffrfaction.org. September 24, 2024. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  39. "SDANW Takes Positions on Ballot Issues: Four More Good Reasons to Vote This November!". South Dakota Advocacy Network for Women. June 20, 2024. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  40. 1 2 Rick Knobe (October 7, 2024). "South Dakota's top elected officials support government control of women's reproductive abilities". The South Dakota Standard. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  41. Austin Goss (October 12, 2024). "Sen. Mike Rounds defends 'trigger law' he signed in announcing opposition to abortion measure". The Dakota Scout. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  42. @RepJonHansen (November 29, 2023). "It was an honor to speak to these pastors yesterday. We stand united in opposition to the abortion-up-to-birth constitutional amendment" (Tweet) via X (formerly Twitter).
  43. Makenzie Huber (May 14, 2024). "Anti-abortion group is behind calls labeled a 'scam' by state election official". South Dakota Searchlight. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  44. @sbaprolife (November 21, 2023). "Abortion activists in South Dakota are lying about their proposed amendment — if it passes it would: 1. Eviscerate parental rights 2. Eliminate health & safety standards 3. Allow painful late-term abortions Watch @LifeDefenseFund's video detailing the deceptive claims ⬇️" (Tweet) via X (formerly Twitter).
  45. Haiar, Joshua; Tupper, Seth (September 18, 2024). "Trial for abortion ballot measure in limbo as court staff 'not aware' of planned start date". South Dakota Searchlight. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  46. Cohen, Rachel M. (February 26, 2024). "This ballot measure would restore Roe. Abortion rights groups are attacking it". Vox. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  47. "SDRTL - Protecting Life In SD Since 1971". South Dakota Right to Life. August 21, 2024. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  48. Emerson College/Nexstar Media
  49. Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy
  50. Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy
  51. Johnson, Monae (November 12, 2024). "2024 General Election Canvass and Certificate" (PDF). Secretary of State of South Dakota. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 6, 2026. Retrieved August 14, 2026.