Constitutional amendment would open up South Dakota primaries to all voters

State political parties right now limit who can participate in biennial primary elections

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A group of political activists want all South Dakotans to be able to participate in primary elections.

A campaign committee calling itself South Dakota Open Primaries filed paperwork with the South Dakota Legislative Research Council Wednesday that seeks to place a constitutional amendment on the 2024 ballot. It would do away with partisan primary elections and require candidates of all parties seeking office to run against one another in biennial primary elections.

“We believe that primary elections in South Dakota should be open to all voters regardless of political affiliation,” said Joe Kirby, a registered Republican chairing the campaign committee. “Under our current system, too many South Dakotans are excluded from the primary process. It’s time to let all voters vote.”

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