RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – With the general election only 20 days away, South Dakota voters have several amendments to vote on, including one that could change the primary election system in the Mount Rushmore state.

If “Amendment H” passes in November, it would remove partisan-primaries and replace them with top-two primary elections for state legislative and executive, county and congressional offices. As it stands, major party candidates have to participate in a partisan-primary election to appear on a general election ballot. A candidate’s party members can only vote for that candidate, except in the case when that party opens the primary to voters, who are not in the party.

”It might give this idea that the parties aren’t necessary, and maybe they aren’t. Maybe there’s an argument to go in that direction. I don’t believe that, but I can see people maybe considering that,” the Democratic Candidate for South Dakota State Senate District 30, Bret Swanson, said.

Another candidate for State Senate District 30 does feel “Amendment H” could be a problem for the state as well if it passes.

”I think South Dakotans deserve to choose their own party nominees without interference from those who don’t share their political values. Our open primary, if open primaries were instituted, outsiders would influence our local decisions, and they already are with how much ballot initiatives we have this year,” the Republican Candidate for South Dakota State Senate District 30, Amber Hulse, said.

If it passes in November, ”Amendment H” would establish one “South Dakota Primary”. Every candidate from each party would be placed on one-primary ballot. The top two candidates with the most votes will move on to the general election.

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YANKTON, S.D. (KTIV) – The Farm Bill is usually done every five years, but we are already in year six.

South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds believes they are getting close to finishing, but there are a few things that still need to be worked out.

“We think that the farm bill basically ready to go there’s a $20 billion difference between what Republicans in the Senate want to do and what Democrats in the Senate want to do,” said the Republican senator. “A lot of it is going to hinge on what the election outcome is going to be as to whether they try to renegotiate the bill before the end of the year or if they wait after the new year and new makeup of the legislative in Washington.”

Rounds believe they should get it done this year.

“It would be better if we get it this year put it in get it passed and actually have something completed for the next five years rather than waiting for another year with the questions that people have about upgrades in terms of commodity price support and so forth,” said Rounds.

For more information on the Farm Bill, you can visit the link here.

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