FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Press Office
Dakotans for Health
605-610-8146
Over 400 Grassroots Circulators Collected 56% More Signatures Than Required. Enough, It’s Time to Let the People Decide! Dismiss the Lawsuit!
June 20, 2024
Sioux Falls, SD...Dakotans for Health has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit brought against it by the Life Defense Fund and Leslee Unruh. The lawsuit seeks to strip South Dakotans of their right to vote on a proposed constitutional amendment that would enshrine the protections of Roe v. Wade into the South Dakota Constitution.
Rick Weiland, co-founder of Dakotans for Health, issued the following statement:
“South Dakota has a proud tradition of empowering its citizens with the right to legislate and amend our constitution directly through ballot initiatives. This tradition reflects the profound distrust of elected politicians and affirms the people’s power to make critical decisions. The lawsuit filed by the Life Defense Fund is a direct attack on this cherished right.
Since the reversal of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court in the Dobbs decision, states across the nation, including Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio, have voted on constitutional amendments related to abortion, with the side favoring access to abortion winning every time. This lawsuit aims to prevent the people of South Dakota from having their say on this crucial issue.
Dakotans for Health worked diligently to ensure that South Dakotans can vote on the Roe v. Wade initiative. Despite numerous attempts by the Life Defense Fund to obstruct and mislead, we collected over 54,000 signatures, 56% more than the 35,017 required for ballot qualification. Our validation rate of 85% is the highest of any initiative petition in South Dakota since at least 2018. Our reproductive freedom ballot measure has met all the required criteria and has been approved by the South Dakota Secretary of State for placement on the November ballot where the people will decide, not the politicians.
The Life Defense Fund’s tactics have included harassment, misinformation, and even fraudulent claims, as noted by the Secretary of State’s office. Yet, these efforts have not swayed the resolve of the people. Only 13 people submitted valid withdrawal forms from the 54,000 signatures submitted, and not a single one of them were part of the random sample of signatures validated by the Secretary of State.
Our motion to dismiss this meritless lawsuit is based on solid legal grounds, and we are confident that the court will uphold the people’s right to vote.”
Please direct press and media inquiries to press@dakotans4health.com or call 605-610-8146.
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About Dakotans for Health:
Dakotans for Health is a grassroots organization focused on healthcare and protecting the democratic process. In 2024, our petitions to restore abortion rights in South Dakota and repeal the regressive state sales tax on groceries were certified and approved by the Secretary of State. Vote YES on Amendment G and IM 28! The organization was also instrumental in the successful 2022 campaign to expand Medicaid coverage to 52,000 low-income South Dakotans. Dakotans for Health is dedicated to ensuring all South Dakotans have access to the care they need, no matter who they are, what they look like, or how much money they have.
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