Gov. Rhoden breaks ranks with influential conservatives, vetoing law that would have overhauled SD’s ballot measure process

Proponents wanted voters from all Senate districts to weigh in on constitutional proposals

Gov. Larry Rhoden vetoed a bill Tuesday that would have required ballot measures seeking to amend the state Constitution to have signatures from all 35 state Senate districts.

Arguing in a letter to lawmakers that the bill would attempt to change the Constitution by statute, Rhoden said he was averting a potential challenge that wouldn’t withstand court scrutiny. The bill, he also said, wouldn’t withstand free speech arguments in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Rhoden echoed the sentiment of those who opposed the bill, saying it gave veto power over a proposed amendment to voters in one Senate district. The bill would have required signatures from 5 percent of registered voters in each district to qualify.

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