Bruce W. Whalen Republican Party - 2364

Stephanie Herseth Democratic Party - 5617

Larry Rudebusch Libertarian Party - 88

Mike Rounds for Governor and

Dennis Daugaard for Lieutenant Governor - 5675

Republican Party

Steven J. Willis for Governor and

Larry Johnsen for Lieutenant Governor - 78

Constitution Party

Jack Billion for Governor and

Eric Abrahamson for Lieutenant Governor - 2325

Democratic Party

Tom Gerber for Governor and

Bette Rose Ryan for Lieutenant Governor - 55

Libertarian Party

Chris Nelson Republican Party -  6417

Larry Long Republican Party - 6393

Ron Volesky Democratic Party - 1419

Randy Ristesund Libertarian Party - 151

Rich Sattgast Republican Party - 5920

Vernon L. Larson Republican Party - 6139

Jarrod Johnson Republican Party - 3845

Bryce Healy Democratic Party - 3922

Jade Ager Libertarian Party - 84

John Koskan Republican Party - 4311

Steve Kolbeck Democratic Party - 3091

Ben Sutter Libertarian Party - 193

Bob Gray Republican Party - 5789

Ryan P. Olson Republican Party - 5092

Tim G. Rounds Republican Party - 4761

Justice John K. Konenkamp representing the First Supreme Court District

Justice Richard W. Sabers representing the Second Supreme Court District

Justice Steven L. Zinter representing the Third Supreme Court District

Justice Judith K. Meierhenry representing the Fourth Supreme Court District

Justice David Gilbertson representing the Fifth Supreme Court District

Title: An Amendment to Article XXI of the South Dakota Constitution, relating to marriage.

Attorney General Explanation: South Dakota statutes currently limit marriage to unions between a man and a woman. However, the State Constitution does not address marriage. Amendment C would amend the State Constitution to allow and recognize marriage only between a man and a woman. It would also prohibit the Legislature from allowing or recognizing civil unions, domestic partnerships or other quasi-marital relationships between two or more persons regardless of sex.

Yes A vote "Yes" will change the Constitution. - 4055

No A vote "No" will leave the Constitution as it is. - 4097

Title: An Amendment to Article XI, Section 2 of the South Dakota Constitution, relating to real property assessment for taxation.

Attorney General Explanation:  The State Constitution currently requires that all taxable property be valued for tax purposes at no more than its actual value, and that all property be classified and taxed uniformly. The proposed amendment to the State Constitution would base the taxable value of property upon "acquisition value" for property sold after January 1, 2007. The Legislature may authorize the assessed value of such property to be annually adjusted by up to three percent, using the 2003 assessed property valuation as the base year. The taxable value of the property may be further adjusted if the property has changed use or classification or has been subject to addition, improvement or destruction. The limitations of this amendment will not apply to centrally assessed property or to any property sold prior to January 1, 2007.

Yes A vote "Yes" will change the Constitution. - 960

No A vote "No" will leave the Constitution as it is. - 7084

Title:  An Amendment to Article VI of the South  Dakota Constitution, relating to judicial decisions.

Attorney General Explanation: Citizens serving on juries, school boards, city councils, county commissions, or in similar capacities, and prosecutors and judges, are all required to make judicial decisions. Their decisions may be reversed on appeal, or they may be removed from office for misconduct or by election. However, they cannot be made to pay money damages for making such decisions. This allows them to do their job without fear of threat or reprisal from either side. The proposed amendment to the State Constitution would allow thirteen special grand jurors to expose these decision makers to fines and jail, and strip them of public insurance coverage and up to one-half of their retirement benefits, for making decisions which break rules defined by the special grand jurors. Special grand jurors are drawn from those who submit their names and registered voters. The proposed amendment is retroactive. The special grand jurors may penalize any decision-maker still alive for decisions made many years ago. If approved, the proposed amendment will likely be challenged in court and may be declared to be in violation of the US Constitution. If so, the State may be required to pay attorneys fees and costs.

Yes A vote "Yes" will change the Constitution. - 740

Title: An Amendment to Article III of the South Dakota Constitution, relating to the Legislature.

Attorney General Explanation: This proposed amendment to the State Constitution includes recommendations by the Constitution Revision Commission. The amendment would remove the current limitation on expense reimbursements received by legislators, and would allow legislators to receive salary, per diem, expenses and mileage reimbursement as provided by law. The amendment would remove the current specific prohibitions against enacting private or special laws. The Legislature would be restrictedby a general prohibition against enacting aspecial law when a general or local law can be made applicable. The amendment would remove the Congressional term limit, which the federal courts have found unconstitutional. The procedure for introduction of a bill would be shortened. The amendment would require a two-thirds vote to close a legislative session to the public and prohibit any vote to be taken in a closed session. The amendment would allow the Legislature to exercise emergency powers in the event of man-made and natural disasters.

Yes A vote "Yes" will change the Constitution. - 2593

No A vote "No" will leave the Constitution as it is. - 5367

Title: An Initiative to increase the tax on cigarettes and tobacco products and to dedicate the revenues.

Attorney General Explanation:  South Dakota  currently taxes tobacco products. The proposed law would increase taxation on tobacco products sold in the state. The tax on a 20 stick cigarette package would be raised by $1.00; the tax on a 25 stick cigarette package would be raised by $1.25. The tax on all other tobacco products such as cigars, roll-your-own, and chewing tobacco, would increase from 10 percent to 35 percent of the wholesale price. The proposed law would deposit up to $30 million of tobacco tax revenue into the state general fund. The next $5 million, if any, will be deposited in the tobacco prevention and reduction trust fund. Tobacco tax revenue in excess of $35 million, if any, will be divided among the property tax reduction fund, the education enhancement trust fund, and the health care trust fund. The proposed law also establishes continuous appropriations out of the tobacco prevention and reduction trust fund for specified purposes.

Yes  A vote "Yes" will adopt the proposed law. - 4735

No  A vote "No" will reject the proposed law. - 3427

Title:  An Initiative to prohibit starting a school  term prior to the last day of August.

Attorney General Explanation:  State law currently allows local school boards to establish the start of a regular school term on any date. The proposed law would prohibit local school boards from establishing the start of a regular school term prior to the last day of August.

Yes  A vote "Yes" will adopt the proposed law. - 2787

No  A vote "No" will reject the proposed law. - 5260

Title:  An act to provide safe access to medical marijuana for certain qualified persons.

Attorney General Explanation:  This initiative would allow persons, including minors with parental consent, with a debilitating medical condition, to be certified to grow (not more than six plants), possess (not more than one ounce) and use small amounts of marijuana for medical purposes. "Debilitating medical condition" is defined to include cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, or a chronic, debilitating condition that produces cachexia, wasting syndrome, severe or chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, including epileptic seizures, severe or persistent muscle spasms, including spasms caused by spinal injury, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease or fibromyalgia or any other medical condition approved by the Department of Health. Certification may be accomplished by submitting medical records to the Department of Health or by submitting a doctor's recommendation. A person may not drive while impaired by marijuana and may not smoke marijuana in any place where tobacco smoking is prohibited. Growth, possession and use of marijuana will still be illegal under federal law but certification is a defense to criminal prosecution under state law.

Yes  A vote "Yes" will adopt the proposed law. - 3625

No   A vote "No" will reject the proposed law. - 4484

Title:  An Initiative to place certain restrictions on the use of state owned or leased aircraft.

Attorney General Explanation:  State law currently allows state employees to use vehicles owned or leased by the State only for state business. There is a limited exception for state employees with a supervisor's approval. The Governor and certain law enforcement personnel are exempt. The proposed law requires aircraft owned or leased by the State to be used only for state business, with no exceptions. A person violating this provision would now be subject to civil and criminal penalties.

Yes  A vote "Yes" will adopt the proposed law. - 3299

No  A vote "No" will reject the proposed law. - 4735

Title: An Initiative to repeal video lottery.

Attorney General Explanation: The State operates video lottery as authorized by State law. During the last year, the State received approximately one hundred twelve million dollars($112,000,000.00) from video lottery which is 11% of the state general fund budget. The proposed law would repeal video lottery and eliminate this source of revenue.

Yes  A vote "Yes" will adopt the proposed law. - 2238

No  A vote "No" will reject the proposed law. - 5847

Title: An Act to repeal the gross receipts tax on wireless telecommunication services.

Attorney General Explanation:  State laws impose a four percent tax on the gross receipts of companies providing wireless telecommunications (cell phone) services instead of a property tax. Last year the State received approximately eight and one-half million dollars ($8,500,000.00) from the cell phone tax. Forty percent (40%) of these revenues are distributed to counties based on population; the balance goes to the State. The proposed law would repeal this tax, and eliminate this source of revenue.

Yes  A vote "Yes" will adopt the proposed law. - 2901

No  A vote "No" will reject the proposed law. - 5172

Title:  Referral of HB 1215, entitled "An Act to establish certain legislative findings, to reinstate the prohibition against certain acts causing the termination of an unborn human life, to prescribe a penalty therefore, and to provide for the implementation of such provisions under certain circumstances."

Attorney General Explanation:  Current South Dakota law generally allows a pregnant woman to obtain an abortion during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. Beyond 24 weeks, abortions may be performed only if necessary to preserve the life or health of the pregnant woman. House Bill 1215 would prohibit any person, at any time, from providing any medicine or other substance to a pregnant woman for the specific purpose of terminating her pregnancy. However, a person may provide a contraception substance to a woman without penalty prior to the time her pregnancy could be determined by conventional medical testing. HB 1215 would also prohibit any person, at any time, from using any instrument or procedure on a pregnant woman for the specific purpose of terminating her pregnancy, unless the person is a licensed physician performing a medical procedure to prevent the death of the pregnant woman. Any person other than the pregnant woman who violates the provisions of HB 1215 would commit a felony. If approved, HB 1215 will likely be challenged in court and may be declared to be in violation of the US Constitution. If so, the State may be required to pay attorneys fees and costs.

Yes  A vote "Yes" will allow the Act to become effective. - 3012

No  A vote "No" will reject the Act. - 5124