South Dakota approves ballot measure affirming only citizens can vote in elections

A ballot measure that would affirm that only U.S. citizens can vote in elections in South Dakota is projected to pass, according to Decision Desk HQ.

The constitutional amendment, assigned the letter “J” on the ballot, changes the South Dakota Constitution to make it clear that only U.S. citizens are allowed to vote in races in the state, adding the line, “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.”

Nearly 62 percent of voters backed the measure, with 84 percent reported.

It also clarifies that “an individual may be disqualified by law for mental incompetence or the conviction of a felony.”

South Dakota’s Constitution already makes it clear that voters must be U.S. citizens to be eligible to vote, saying, “Every United States citizen eighteen years of age or older who has met all residency and registration requirements shall be entitled to vote in all elections and upon all questions submitted to the voters of the state unless disqualified by law for mental incompetence or the conviction of a felony.”

The ballot measure looks to reiterate the citizenship voting requirement even further.

Republicans have leaned into issues around voting and proper identification, particularly as President Trump has baselessly asserted there’s been widespread voter fraud in the U.S.

The president has pressed GOP lawmakers to pass legislation that would require people to show proof of citizenship in order to register to vote and show photo identification at the polls, though those efforts have been unsuccessful.

Ballotpedia notes that more than a dozen states teed up ballot measures Tuesday pertaining to election policy, including six states that are asking voters about citizenship and six states asking about voter ID.