House Votes Down Proposal to Prohibit Paid Signature Gatherers

The South Dakota House has voted down a proposal that sought to prohibit the use of paid petition circulators. Supporters of House Bill 1087 contended that allowing payment for signature gathering opens the door for outside groups to exert undue influence over ballot initiatives. Opponents countered that such a ban would conflict with U.S. Supreme Court precedent and potentially expose the state to millions of dollars in legal expenses. The measure was defeated on a vote of 28–38.