FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, August 5, 2022                                                                                            CONTACT: Tony Mangan, 605-773-6196

PIERRE, S.D. -- South Dakota Attorney General Mark Vargo has released the following Attorney General’s ballot draft explanation for the November 2024 general election.

The draft amendment is entitled: A Constitutional Amendment Concerning the Regulation of Abortion.

State law requires the Attorney General to draft a title and explanation for each initiated measure, initiated constitutional amendment, constitutional amendment proposed by the Legislature, or referred measure that may appear on an election ballot.  See SDCL 12-13-9 & 12-13-25.1.  

The Attorney General’s explanation is meant to be an “objective, clear, and simple summary” intended to “educate the voters of the purpose and effect of the proposed” measure, as well as identify the “legal consequences” of each measure. SDCL 12-13-9 & 12-13-25.1.  Each explanation is limited to 200 words. 

The public can comment on draft Attorney General explanations.  Once the Attorney General has filed and posted the draft explanation, the public has 10 days to provide written comment.  The Attorney General must review all accepted comments and may revise the draft explanation as deemed necessary.  The final explanation from the Attorney General must be filed with the Secretary of State no later than 20 days after filing the draft explanation.

For more information regarding ballot measures, please visit the Secretary of State’s website.

State law may be reviewed by visiting the Legislative Research Council webpage.

To file written comments on a draft Attorney General’s explanation please use one of the following methods.  Copies of all received comments will be posted on this website.  The deadline for comments on this amendment explanation is August 15, 2022 at the close of business.  The final explanation is due to the Secretary of State on August 24, 2022.

Comments may be submitted via mail, or through hand delivery, to the Attorney General’s Office at the following address: 

 Office of the Attorney General                                                                                                                                           Ballot Comment                                                                                                                                                                 1302 E. Hwy. 14, Suite 1                                                                                                                                                         Pierre, SD 57501

Comments that are hand delivered must be received by the close of business on the day the time

to accept comments expires.  Comments that are mailed must be received by the Attorney General’s Office before the deadline to accept comments expires. 

Comments may also be emailed to ATGhelp@state.sd.us.  Emailed comments must be received by the Attorney General’s Office before the deadline to accept comments expires.  Your comments should be clearly expressed in the body of the email.  The Attorney General’s Office will not open attachments in an effort to prevent malware or other digital threats.  Please include your name and contact information when submitting your comment, and the title of the comment must be included in the subject line of the email

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