Antiabortion group challenges South Dakota ballot initiative
The complaint alleges that pro-choice organization violating laws regarding the petitioning process
An antiabortion group filed a complaint to challenge a South Dakota ballot initiative that would guarantee abortion rights within the protections provided by the state constitution.
The lawsuit, brought by the Life Defense Fund, alleges that the petition was signed multiple times and that misleading information was included. Dakotans for Health, the committee that spearheaded the ballot initiative, is accused of misrepresenting the initiative's purpose.
Rick Weiland, president of Dakotans for Health, spoke to me about their legal strategy. On Tuesday, they filed for an injunction to prevent the Life Defense Fund and several other plaintiffs from enforcing the law that has been allegedly violated.
“We think it's pretty baseless,” Weiland said.
The complaint filed against Weiland’s organization is based on Senate Bill 180, which would have required paid circulators to give personal information, including phone numbers and addresses. They also must meet a 30-day residency requirement.
Dakotans for Health successfully challenged the residency requirement several years ago. The judge enjoined it from being enforced.
“Their whole case, for the most part, hinges on that residency requirement,” Weiland said. “We're asking the federal judge simply to stay the case based on his decision.”
State Representative Jon Hansen is a crucial figure in the antiabortion movement in South Dakota. Some have criticized him for being on the Life Defense Fund’s payroll because they say it is a conflict of interest with his duties as a lawmaker.
“This is kind of their last ditch effort to try to stop this citizens amendment from getting on the ballot,” Weiland said.
A recent poll from South Dakota News Watch showed that the amendment has the support of people by a nearly 20-point lead.