Draft explanations of the proposed measure on prayer in schools, to be introduced in 2026, published

From Mitchell now 22 August 2024, 11:51 am

MITCHELL, SD (MITCHELLNOW) At the request of the sponsor, an explanation for a proposed initiated measure that would require non-denominational prayer in public schools, which is based on the 2026 The general election ballot, if approved, has been submitted to the South Dakota Attorney General's Office for public review.

Attorney General Marty Jackley is not taking a position on any such proposal for the purposes of preparing the election statement. He has issued a fair and neutral statement on the proposed measure to assist voters. The sponsor of the proposed measure is Hillel Hellinger of North Miami Beach, Florida.

This proposed measure would require every teacher in public schools from kindergarten through 12th grade to lead students in prayer every morning. The measure would allow both teachers and students to request an exemption from participating in prayer.

The voting explanation can be found here.

State law requires the attorney general to draft a title and explanation for every introduced measure, initiated constitutional amendment, proposed constitutional amendment by the legislature, or referred measure that may appear on a ballot. The attorney general's explanation is intended to be an “objective, clear, and straightforward summary” intended to “inform voters of the purpose and effect of the proposed measure” and identify the “legal consequences” of each measure.

Once the Attorney General files and publishes the draft statement, the public will have 10 days to comment in writing. The statement was filed on August 20, 2024, and the deadline for comments on that statement is August 30, 2024, at the close of business in Pierre, South Dakota. The final statement must be filed with the Secretary of State on September 9, 2024.

The initiated measure would require 17,509 valid petition signatures to qualify for the 2026 Ballot paper for the parliamentary election.

To submit written comments on a draft Attorney General's Statement, please use one of the methods below. Copies of all comments received will be posted on this website.

Comments can be sent by mail or by personal delivery to the Attorney General’s Office at the following address:

Office of the Attorney General
Voting comment
1302 E. Highway 14, Suite 1
Pierre, SD 57501

Comments submitted in person must be received by close of business in Pierre, South Dakota on August 30, 2024.

Comments may also be submitted via email to [email protected] by August 30, 2024. Comments should be clearly worded in the body of the email. The Attorney General's office does not open attachments to prevent malware or other digital threats. Please include your name and contact information when submitting your comment. The title of the comment must be included in the subject line of the email.