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South Dakota · November 3, 2026 general election · Statewide ballot measure

Constitutional Amendment L: what your vote means

60% vote required for constitutional amendments. On every South Dakota ballot. Official sources checked October 21, 2026.

Constitutional Amendment L · Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

60% vote required for constitutional amendments

Heads up: voting YES on this measure removes simple-majority approval for future constitutional amendments, which would need 60% instead.

Official ballot title (quoted exactly)

An Amendment to the South Dakota Constitution Requiring that a Proposed Constitutional Amendment or Revision Receive an Affirmative Vote of Sixty Percent of the Votes Cast.

Attorney General’s title as printed in the 2026 Ballot Question Pamphlet, South Dakota Secretary of State.

A YES vote means:

Future constitutional amendments and revisions would need 60% of the votes cast to pass, instead of a simple majority.

A NO vote means:

Constitutional amendments and revisions would continue to pass with a simple majority of votes cast.

What it would change

  • Who is affected: voters, and sponsors of future constitutional amendments, whether citizen-initiated or from the Legislature.
  • What it removes: simple-majority approval for constitutional amendments.
  • Background (pamphlet): voters rejected a 55% threshold in 2018 and a 60% threshold for amendments with fiscal impacts in 2022.
  • Fiscal impact: No official fiscal note is published in the 2026 Ballot Question Pamphlet for this legislative amendment.

Official arguments, summarized

Short neutral summaries of the arguments printed in the official voters’ pamphlet. The committees that wrote them are responsible for their content. Read the full text at the link below.

Argument for

Supporters say a higher threshold ensures only changes with broad support enter the constitution.

Written by: John Hughes, State Representative; Dale Bartscher, South Dakota Right to Life; Nathan Sanderson, South Dakota Retailers

Argument against

Opponents say it would let a minority block changes and make it harder for citizens to use the initiative process.

Written by: Chase Jensen, Dakota Rural Action; Ryan Rolfs, South Dakota Education Association

Pro and con statements on Amendment L, 2026 Ballot Question Pamphlet (PDF)

Who supports it and who opposes it

These lists come from official campaign filings (registered committees) and public endorsements, each linked to its source. They are not complete, and SaveYourState does not endorse anyone listed. Lists checked October 30, 2026.

Who supports it

Who opposes it

Official sources

SaveYourState is independent and nonpartisan, not a government site, and does not take positions on ballot measures. This explainer describes effects only, using the official ballot title, explanatory statement, full text, and fiscal impact statement. If anything here differs from those documents, the official documents control.