Court Rules South Dakota Ballot Deadline Violates Free Speech | Pierre News

A federal appeals court just struck down South Dakota’s shortened ballot initiative deadline, ruling it violates the First Amendment by unfairly restricting citizens’ right to petition. The state claimed the earlier deadline helped with election integrity, but judges found no evidence supporting that claim—and even criticized the state for lacking solid justification. This win bolsters groups like Dakotans for Health, who’ve struggled with fundraising and volunteer recruitment under the uncertain timeline, as they push two major constitutional amendments to empower voters. But the battle isn’t over—the attorney general plans to ask the full court to reconsider, arguing the original law was fair. With November’s election looming, every day counts as groups race to collect signatures and get their measures on the ballot. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/df3c0470bc495d92