Closing a ‘loophole’ or ‘fearmongering’ about noncitizens voting: South Dakota’s Amendment J

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (South Dakota Searchlight) A supporter of a state constitutional amendment on South Dakota’s Nov. 3 ballot says it would close a loophole in voting eligibility, while an opponent says it engages in “fearmongering.” The state constitution already affirms the right of U.S. citizens to vote. Amendment J, one of four questions on the ballot, asks South Dakotans to add language to the constitution specifying people who are not U.S. citizens are “disqualified from voting.” Two years ago, state officials discovered 273 non-U.S. citizens had accidentally been registered to vote in South Dakota while their driver’s license forms were being processed. Noncitizens can obtain a driver’s license or state ID if they are lawful permanent residents or have temporary legal status. A section of the driver’s license form allows an applicant to register to vote if they’re a citizen. One of those 273 people voted, according to the South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office. That was in 20