Final Ballot Explanation Filed for 2026 Constitutional Amendment on Citizenship and Voting Eligibility
- Steve Jurrens
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has filed the final ballot explanation for a proposed Constitutional Amendment clarifying that only United States citizens are eligible to vote in South Dakota elections.
The measure, approved by the Legislature as Senate Joint Resolution 503 (2025), will appear on the Nov. 3, 2026, general election ballot.
The amendment would add explicit language to Article VII, Section 2 of the South Dakota Constitution stating that “an individual who is not a citizen of the United States is disqualified from voting in any election or upon any question submitted to the voters of this state.”
The Constitution already requires voters to be U.S. citizens, but the Legislature’s proposal seeks to restate and clarify that requirement.
Attorney General Issues Neutral Explanation
As required by state law, Attorney General Jackley does not take a position for or against the measure. His office is responsible only for preparing a fair, objective, and neutral explanation to help voters understand the amendment’s legal effect.
The explanation was finalized after a mandatory 10-day public comment period on the draft. According to the Attorney General’s Office, no public comments were submitted before the deadline.
The sponsors of SJR 503 were Sen. Taffy Howard and Rep. Logan Manhart.
What the Amendment Would Do
According to the Attorney General’s final statement, the amendment would:
· Add non‑citizens to the list of individuals disqualified from voting
· Clarify existing constitutional language regarding voter eligibility
· Leave all other voter qualifications — age, residency, registration, and disqualifications for mental incompetence or felony conviction — unchanged
Voters will see the measure on the 2026 ballot with the standard options: “Vote ‘Yes’ to adopt the amendment.” “Vote ‘No’ to leave the Constitution as it is.”
Where to Learn More
For additional information on all 2026 ballot measures, visit the Secretary of State’s website. South Dakota Secretary of State
