Supporters of a “top two” primary election system in South Dakota that would replace the current partisan process with one open to all voters have submitted thousands more petition signatures than required to bring a vote this fall on their ballot initiative.
On Monday, South Dakota Open Primaries sponsors said they submitted petitions with 47,000 signatures to Secretary of State Monae Johnson’s office. The measure group needs 35,017 valid signatures to make the November ballot. Johnson’s office has until Aug. 13 to validate the measure, a proposed constitutional amendment.
Under South Dakota’s current primary election system, candidates in gubernatorial, congressional, legislative and county races compete in a partisan primary. The measure would allow all candidates to compete against each other in one primary, and the top two vote-getters in each race or for each seat would advance to the general election. A similar measure failed in 2016.
An inquiry into a building fire in South Africa that killed 76 finds city authorities responsible
Japan helicopter crash: Flight data show no sign of mechanical failure
Attractive female faces make men behave more honestly, study suggests
These 15 AP photos capturing migrants' struggle were honored with a Pulitzer Prize
Jokic is trying to stay on top and Embiid is trying to stay on the court
With homelessness on the rise, Supreme Court to weigh bans on sleeping outdoors
Yankees pitcher Luis Gil gets 2nd big league win, 993 days after beating Orioles in debut
Spain's Prado Museum confirms rediscovery of lost Caravaggio. Painting will be unveiled May 27
ANDREW PIERCE: Will Keir criticism see Mandy back in the wilderness?
Anaheim Ducks goaltending coach Sudarshan Maharaj declared cancer
Tesla's new mega factory project in Shanghai to start construction