South Dakota decides whether to protect abortion rights and legalize recreational marijuana

In South Dakota, Democrats allowed unaffiliated voters to participate in their June primary, but Republicans did not. The ballot initiative would amend the state constitution to end partisan primaries by having all candidates for office run simultaneously in what is sometimes called a “jungle primary.”

Supporters of the change say it would make the election more reflective of voters’ wishes and ensure that 155,000 voters with no party affiliation can vote for their favored candidates in the primary.

But leaders of both major political parties criticized the proposal, arguing that candidates from the smaller Libertarian and No Labels parties were unlikely to ever appear on the general election ballot.

In a state where the GOP holds nearly 90 percent of the seats in the Legislature, it is likely that in many places all the candidates in the general election will be Republicans. Meanwhile, a broader electorate could help more moderate GOP candidates at the expense of the more conservative ones favored by party leaders.

Hanna reported from Topeka, Kansas.