Press Releases

As the leading civil rights organization in our state, the ACLU of South Dakota believes in keeping the public informed about the state of their civil liberties. The work we do at the legislature, in the courts, and in our communities is important, but there is no better defender of civil rights than a public that is informed and engaged. For media inquiries, email [email protected].

Mar 8, 2024

S.D. Office of Hearing Examiners Wrong to Not Protect Tribal Sovereignty in Public Records Dispute Between Oglala Sioux Tribe and City of Martin

The South Dakota Office of Hearing Examiners affirmed last month that the Oglala Sioux Tribe could not be required to pay the City of Martin’s legal fees to receive public records. Unfortunately, in that same decision, the examiner failed to protect the Tribe’s sovereign immunity.
Issue Areas: Indigenous Justice, Voting Rights
Feb 28, 2024

Senate Committee Advances Bill to Weaken South Dakota’s Citizen-Led Initiative Process

South Dakota laws already place significant requirements on how ballot measures are publicly presented. House Bill 1244 infringes on citizens’ rights to gather the thousands of petition signatures necessary to place questions on statewide ballots.
Issue Areas: Voting Rights
Feb 28, 2024

Legislative Committee Advances Bill to Restrict Voting Rights of New South Dakotans

South Dakota has been heralded as the freest state in the nation – but restricting access to one of the most fundamental rights we have as Americans, participating in our democracy through voting, strips new residents of their freedom to take part in our elections.
Issue Areas: Voting Rights
Feb 21, 2024

House State Affairs Committee Advances Bill to Expand and Protect Native American Voting Rights; ACLU Comments

Senate Bill 119 would allow Native American voters to register to vote using their Tribal identification on the same par as a state-issued driver’s license.
Issue Areas: Voting Rights, Indigenous Justice
Feb 9, 2024

Oglala Sioux Tribe’s Request ‘Reasonable and Legal’ In Redistricting Public Records Dispute

The South Dakota Office of Hearing Examiners has affirmed that to receive public records, the Oglala Sioux Tribe need not pay the City of Martin’s “outside legal fees incurred in producing the records.”
Issue Areas: Indigenous Justice, Voting Rights
Jan 9, 2024

ACLU of South Dakota Announces 2024 Legislative Priorities

The ACLU’s educational, organizing and lobbying efforts will be focused primarily on voting rights, free speech and expression, LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit equality, Indigenous sovereignty and justice, and bodily autonomy and abortion rights.
Issue Areas: Free Speech, Indigenous Justice, LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit Rights, Reproductive Freedom, Voting Rights
Jan 4, 2024

City of Martin Imposes Extreme Stipulations on Oglala Sioux Tribe Records Request; ACLU, NARF and Public Counsel Appealing City’s Demands

The City of Martin, S.D., wants the Oglala Sioux Tribe to either waive its sovereign immunity or pay an unknown amount of exorbitant attorneys and administrative fees upfront in order to receive public records related to the city’s new redistricting map.
Issue Areas: Indigenous Justice, Voting Rights
Feb 21, 2023

ACLU of South Dakota Opposes Bill to Authorize Legislative Involvement in Cases Pertaining to Election Law

Injecting the state legislature into lawsuits that challenge the constitutionality of election laws threaten judicial independence by limiting courts’ power and injects politics into state judiciaries.
Issue Areas: Voting Rights, Indigenous Justice
Feb 15, 2023

ACLU of South Dakota Opposes Bill Limiting Absentee Ballot Eligibility

Our elected officials should be doing everything they can to encourage people to vote – not making it harder, as House Bill 1217 would do.
Issue Areas: Voting Rights