More than 40,000 Signatures Collected & Delivered to Put an End to Gerrymandering in the State

November 10, 2015 – By #South Dakota Farmer Union

Voters will have a voice November 2016 thanks to the efforts of South Dakota Farmers Union and volunteers statewide who worked tirelessly to collect 40,400 signatures for the Independent Redistricting Commission.

 “This was truly a grassroots effort,” says Doug Sombke, President of South Dakota Farmers Union. “Collecting signatures in order to give voters an opportunity to end gerrymandering wasn’t easy – but there was buy-in from South Dakotans, regardless of party, because it is the right thing to do.”

This is not the first time gerrymandering has been a focus for South Dakota Farmers Union, Sombke added. “Gerrymandering is something the membership and County Counselors have wanted to solve for as long as I’ve been involved in Farmers Union. We have tried addressing it numerous ways, but each time we thought we had a solution, it was defeated by legislators. As a Constitutional Amendment, we’ll finally be able to let voters have their say and put an end to gerrymandering.”

 Mark Remily, #SDRtThing2Do Coalition Campaign Coordinator, echoes Sombke’s comments. “Collecting signatures to get the Constitutional Amendment on the ballot was a difficult task – made even more challenging by the media attention given to groups illegally collecting signatures. This could not have been done without the Farmers Union members and staff who volunteered their time – and the members of the South Dakota Democratic party – thank you all!”

 Next steps

Now that the Constitutional Amendment will be on the ballot Nov. 2016, Matt Sibley, S.D. Farmers Union Legislative Specialist says the next step will be for South Dakota Farmers Union to work to educate voters on what a YES vote will mean.

 “We are excited to focus on sharing how this change will have a positive impact on South Dakota’s voters – giving them the representation

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Last Modified: 11/10/2015 8:56:37 am MST