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Decisions, Decisions: Why You Should Vote Yes On T

Posted on: August 1, 2016   |   Category: News Releases

August 1, 2016 – By #South Dakota Farmer Union

 Every election cycle, the Secretary of State’s office puts together a Ballot Question Pamphlet that outlines the pros and cons of each ballot measure before the voters. With no group organizing against Amendment T, it will be interesting to see the cons presented in the pamphlet. Of course, here in the Amendment T camp we don’t believe there are any cons. Below you will find the pros provided by the #SDRtThing2Do ballot question committee. Voting YES on Amendment T will improve the way voting maps are drawn in South Dakota. It puts VOTERS back in charge of our elections because VOTERS should choose their legislators, legislators should not choose their VOTERS. How voting maps are drawn matters. Currently, the Legislature is responsible for re-drawing voting maps in South Dakota. Politicians choosing voters. Amendment T changes that by putting redistricting in the hands of an impartial committee of registered voters. Voters choosing politicians. Amendment T is not about politicians or political parties, it is about voters’ rights. Voting YES on Amendment T will:

  • Replace the previous committee of 15 LEGISLATORS with a balanced 9 member committee of VOTERS, saving taxpayer dollars.
  • Require committee members not hold public office 3 years before or after being selected.
  • Establish constitutional guidelines to ban the use of political party identification and incumbency to manipulate voter maps.
  • Establish constitutional guidelines to protect counties and neighborhoods by requiring they be kept in the same voting district whenever possible.
  • Give South Dakotans a 30 day public comment period to express their concerns and comments on potential voter maps.

  Amendment T is more efficient, provides more safeguards, is partisan balanced and encourages voter participation. It curbs corruption and holds politicians accountable by pulling back the curtain of secrecy on the process of drawing voting maps. It creates a fair system so that voters are choosing politicians instead of politicians choosing voters. Amendment T uses South Dakota common sense to establish fair elections for all South Dakotans.   VOTE YES ON T!

Last Modified: 08/01/2016 3:00:03 pm MDT