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Secretary of State validates top-two primary ballot question

Photo of an election booth
SDPB
/
Kent Osborne

A ballot question aiming to establish a top-two primary election system in South Dakota is going to voters.

Secretary of State Monae Johnson said office has validated the petition seeking to get the measure on the November ballot. Its title is “Constitutional Amendment H.”

The measure would amend the state’s constitution creating an open primary vote for certain statewide offices, including governor. The top two vote recipients would then face off in the November election.

Currently, the Republican primary election is open only to Republicans.

The group backing the measure said it opens the primary system to more voters. Opponents say it works against the traditional political party system.

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