House Defeats Ban on Paid Petition Circulators to Avoid Costly Court Defeat

Bill to ban paid petitioning fails in South Dakota House of Representatives

Ismay argued that paying circulators undermines the interests of South Dakotans by allowing out-of-state interests to fund campaigns meant to change the state.

House Defeats Ban on Paid Petition Circulators to Avoid Costly Court Defeat

The House saved South Dakota from another costly courtroom defeat yesterday, voting 28–38 to kill House Bill 1087, Rep. Travis Ismay’s (R-28B/Vale) patently unconstitutional proposal to outlaw paying people to circulate ballot question petitions. Opponents issued the same warning I did the moment I read Ismay’s doomed proposal: pass a ban on paid petition circulators (and not even all circulators, just people promoting ballot questions, demonstr…

Paid petition circulators safe in South Dakota after ban bid stalls

Rep. Travis IsmayPIERRE — The South Dakota House on Tuesday rejected a bill that would have banned paid petition circulators, after opponents warned the proposal directly conflicted with long-standing U.S. Supreme Court precedent and could cost the state millions in legal fees.House Bill 1087 failed on a 28–38 vote, with four excused, following extended floor debate over ballot access, outside influence, and the cost of defending a likely lawsui…