The ballot initiative, which was put forward in 2022, would add a new section to Article VI of the South Dakota Constitution, which is the state’s Bill of Rights. The initiative would allow for abortion through all nine months of pregnancy by vaguely laying out by trimester framework how abortion might be regulated. To get an initiated constitutional amendment certified for the 2024 ballot requires 35,017 valid signatures by May 7, 2024.
The South Dakota Catholic Conference (SDCC) has issued several resources to help citizen understand what changes if this amendment is passed. According to the SDCC website: “We have a responsibility, as a community that cherishes all human life, to become informed on this proposal that threatens the lives of preborn children, and to educate our fellow citizens.” For more information click here.
The state legislators recently expressed their opposition to this proposed amendment in House Concurrent Resolution 6008, to read more click here.
