Proposal Would Require Redistricting Done by Commission

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota Farmers Union has proposed amending the state constitution so that a commission redraws the state's legislative districts every 10 years instead of lawmakers.

Attorney General Marty Jackley announced the proposed constitutional amendment Tuesday and explained its impact.

Currently, the Legislature must redraw the boundaries of legislative districts every decade to reflect population changes reported by the census.

Jackley says the proposed changes would create a commission made up of nine registered voters selected each decade from a pool of up to 30 applicants. The pool would consist both of applicants registered with South Dakota's two largest political parties and non-affiliated voters.

To get a constitutional amendment on the ballot requires 27,741 signatures, which must be submitted to the state by Nov. 9, 2015.

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