PIERRE, S.D. -   Attorney General Marty Jackley announced today that Circuit Court Judge Mark Barnett has ruled that the Secretary of State was correct when she determined Initiated Measure 21 contained enough signatures to be placed on the November 2016 general election ballot. 

“For the second time this week, the Court has upheld Secretary of State Kreb’s certification process affirming her and her office’s work is upholding the integrity of our elections in South Dakota,” said Jackley.

Initiated Measure 21 seeks to place an interest rate cap of 36% on loans made by certain licensed money lenders.  On December 28, 2015, the South Dakota Secretary of State certified that the measure would appear on the general election ballot.  In January, opponents challenged the filling of Initiated Measure 21 with the Secretary of State.  Following a denial of their challenge by the Secretary of State, a lawsuit was filed in Hughes County Circuit Court.  Opponents made over twenty-six thousand objections to the Initiated Measure 21 petition.  At the conclusion of a two-day trial, the Court agreed with the Secretary of State.  Initiated Measure 21 will be put to vote at the general election on November 8, 2016.