Group gunning for 'Open Primary' initiative forms with GOP support

Amendment H opposition pegs ballot measure as 'trojan horse'

Political parties in South Dakota choose who’s eligible to participate in partisan primary elections. The Democratic Party allows Independents to participate in its nomination process each June, while the GOP limits participation to registered Republicans. (Joe Sneve / The Dakota Scout)

An organized opposition group has formed to block a proposed change to the South Dakota Constitution that would end the state’s partisan primary election process.

With fewer than 100 days to go before voters the November election, a ballot question committee has been formed in hopes of convincing voters to reject proposed Constitutional Amendment H, which would create an “open primary” election system in South Dakota.

Though touted as a means to allow more registered voters to participate in South Dakota’s biennial primary election used to nominate political candidates to the fall ballot, organizers of “Vote No on Amendment H” are characterizing it as a “trojan horse” that would push South Dakota’s politics to the left.

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