South Dakota senators uphold ballot measure status quo, Gov. Larry Rhoden’s veto

Election ballot proposal would have made petition circulators get signatures in every legislative district to bring constitutional amendments to public vote

PIERRE — South Dakota lawmakers in the Senate have failed to override Gov. Larry Rhoden’s veto of a bill that would have made putting a constitutional amendment on the ballot more difficult.

Needing a two-thirds majority to override, the Senate voted 16-16 Monday to sustain the governor’s veto after Republicans in the House voted 50-18 to override Rhoden. As House Republicans prepared for their final day of the legislative session—"Veto Day"—some predicted the measure would get through the House and to the Senate.

Republican divisions resurface on eve of Veto Day in South Dakota