The Ballot Brief
South Dakota ballot measures · 2026

Constitutional Amendment J Citizenship Voting Requirement Amendment

Ballot measures › South Dakota 2026 › Constitutional Amendment J

Constitutional amendment (legislative referral)On the November 3, 2026 ballot

South Dakota Constitutional Amendment J (Citizenship Voting Requirement Amendment) is on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Provide 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"

What a yes or no vote means

A YES vote Supports constitutional language disqualifying individuals who are not U.S. citizens from voting in any election in the state.
A NO vote Leaves the constitution's current voter-qualification language unchanged.
Read the certified ballot question

Provide 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"

Verify with the state: official full text and details →.

See everything else on your South Dakota ballot

About this measure

How it reached the ballot

South Dakota initiated measures and veto referendums need signatures equal to 5 percent of the total vote for governor at the last gubernatorial election (17,508 for 2026), while initiated constitutional amendments need 10 percent (35,017), all due the first Tuesday in May before the general election. The Legislature places amendments on the ballot by majority vote of both chambers on a joint resolution, which is how all four of 2026's measures qualified. Measures pass by simple majority, though Amendment L proposes raising that to 60 percent for future constitutional amendments.

About this page

Wording above follows the certified ballot language; The Ballot Brief does not take positions on measures.

Other South Dakota statewide measures in 2026

Constitutional Amendment I: Medicaid Expansion Conditioned on 90% Federal Funding AmendmentConstitutional Amendment K: Creation of Unclaimed Property Trust Fund AmendmentConstitutional Amendment L: 60% Vote Requirement for Constitutional Amendments Measure

All South Dakota 2026 ballot measures · South Dakota candidates