Avera Health throws support behind effort to overhaul state primary elections

Health care provider backs 'South Dakota Open Primaries' with five-figure donation

(Facebook)

One of the largest providers of health care in South Dakota wants to see the state get rid of partisan primaries.

Avera Health donated $25,000 to the Amendment H campaign, backing a proposal to eliminate South Dakota’s current closed primary system for a “top-two” style system. Candidates for the Legislature, as well as a number of statewide offices, would run in the same June primary regardless of partisan registration - with the top two advancing to a runoff election in November. The primary would be open to all registered voters.

Critics question how the contribution further the nonprofit health care system’s mission.

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