South Dakota

Slay the Dragon Logo

SLAY THE DRAGON follows everyday people, outraged by what they see as an attack on the core democratic principle that every person’s vote should count equally. This election year, we’re joining together with grassroots partners to put an end to gerrymandering. Because this issue impacts each state differently, we’ve created a map to help you navigate how gerrymandering affects your state and community. SLAY THE DRAGON arrives on demand April 3.

 

GET CAUGHT UP

Click on your state in the map above to find out what’s going on and how you can help.

We are partnering with organizations in Michigan, Colorado, Wisconsin to support the creation of non-partisan redistricting commissions to protect votes across the country.

Map of the United States of America

Click on your state in the map above to find out what’s going on and how you can help.

We are partnering with organizations in Michigan, Colorado, Wisconsin to support the creation of non-partisan redistricting commissions to protect votes across the country.

Slay the Dragon Logo

SLAY THE DRAGON follows everyday people, outraged by what they see as an attack on the core democratic principle that every person’s vote should count equally. This election year, we’re joining together with grassroots partners to put an end to gerrymandering. Because this issue impacts each state differently, we’ve created a map to help you navigate how gerrymandering affects your state and community. SLAY THE DRAGON arrives on demand April 3.

 

GET CAUGHT UP

Click on your state in the map above to find out what’s going on and how you can help.

We are partnering with organizations in Michigan, Colorado, Wisconsin to support the creation of non-partisan redistricting commissions to protect votes across the country.

Map of the United States of America

Click on your state in the map above to find out what’s going on and how you can help.

We are partnering with organizations in Michigan, Colorado, Wisconsin to support the creation of non-partisan redistricting commissions to protect votes across the country.

South Dakota

Process

State Legislature

South Dakota's state legislative lines are drawn by the Legislature by ordinary statute, and are subject to the Governor's veto. The Legislature can override vetoes with a two-thirds vote in each chamber. South Dakota has only one at-large congressional district, so there is no congressional redistricting.

Criteria

In addition to the federal requirements of one person, one vote and the Voting Rights Act, South Dakota’s state constitution (Art. III § 5) requires that state legislative districts be contiguous and compact. South Dakota’s state statutes (Code § 2-2-41) further require that districts preserve political subdivisions and communities of interest.

Public Input

While South Dakota law does not require public hearings, the legislative committee responsible for redistricting held at least five hearings in the summer of 2011, including on Native American reservations. It is likely that there will be similar opportunities for public input in 2021.

Issues

Pitfalls

South Dakota has a significant Native American population, raising issues of fair representation under the Voting Rights Act and the Constitution. In 2011, legislators held public meetings and hearings on Indian reservations to gain more direct input. These important efforts came after the state lost lawsuits in the 2000 redistricting cycle over violating the voting rights of Native Americans.

Census Delays

  • State legislative redistricting plan deadline: December 1, 2021 (Art. III § 5)
  • Backup Supreme Court of South Dakota plan deadline: March 1, 2022 (Art. III § 5)

The Census Bureau may delay sending population data to states until as late as July 31, 2021. South Dakota should still be able to meet its December 1 deadline, though it would need a special legislative session to complete redistricting.

Reform

In August 2019, Dan Ahler, a former state legislator, submitted a ballot initiative for a proposed constitutional amendment to create an independent redistricting commission. The commission would be comprised of five members, selected by the four state legislative leaders and the Secretary of State, with no more than two from a political party. The initiative did not gather enough signatures before the November 2019 deadline.

In February 2020, the Legislature introduced HJR 5002, a bill that closely resembled Ahler’s initiative for an independent redistricting commission. The bill died when the Legislature adjourned on March 30, 2020.

Actions

Partner with Drawn Together SD, a coalition of statewide organizations dedicated to redistricting reform. 

In 2020, support state legislative candidates who favor fair districting. The entire South Dakota Legislature will be up for re-election in 2020.

In 2021, participate in the Legislature’s public input process.

  • Obtain South Dakota redistricting data from OpenPrecincts.
  • Start to plan out what defines your community – whether it’s a shared economic interest, school districts, or other social or other cultural, historical, or economic interests – and how that can be represented on a map. This will come in handy once the Legislature starts collecting feedback.
  • Use software tools such as Dave's Redistricting App and Districtr to draw district maps showing either (a) what a fair map would look like, or (b) where the community you believe should be better represented is located.

Read the Common Cause Activist Handbook on Redistricting Reform to learn about what reforms have been successful in the past, and what steps to take to enact reform in the future. South Dakota has a ballot initiative process, offering a direct pathway for citizens to create change.

Contacts

Princeton Gerrymandering Project Data provided by the Princeton Gerrymandering Project

State Info

State Boundaries: Drawn by legislature
Legislative Control: Republican
Governor's Political Party: Republican
Last Updated: Oct 13 2020