Polls

A legislative task force is considering a plan to organize South Dakota’s ambulance services into eight to 14 regions, potentially with state oversight and funding to help keep emergency medical services sustainable. The proposal comes as many ambulance services face financial challenges, low reimbursement rates and an aging, often volunteer workforce. Lawmakers say the goal is to ensure an ambulance can respond when someone calls 911, but establishing the regions and determining how they would be funded could take years. Do you support creating regional ambulance service systems with state oversight and potential state funding?

Amendment J on the SD Nov. 3 general election ballot would amend the South Dakota Constitution to clarify that only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in state elections. Existing language already includes citizenship as a voting qualification. How would you/did you vote on Amendment J?

Independent candidates are becoming a more visible option in South Dakota and other Great Plains states. U.S. Senate candidate Brian Bengs of South Dakota, along with independent candidates in Montana and Nebraska, recently pledged not to caucus with either major party if elected. They say they would consider policies from both parties and prioritize the needs of their constituents over party leadership. When deciding how to vote, do you seriously consider independent candidates, or do you generally vote along party lines?

South Dakota lawmakers are expected to receive a roughly 3% pay increase next year, bringing their annual salary from $15,970 to about $16,492. Lawmakers’ total compensation can be higher when mileage, living expenses and out of state travel are included, with the average payout per legislator reaching $26,813 during the last fiscal year. The salary increase is tied to a state law that sets legislators’ pay at 20% of South Dakota’s median household income. Do you agree with the roughly 3% increase in pay for South Dakota legislators?

The Journal has been including a “Joke of the Week” feature for the last several issues (this week on page 5). What do you think of this new feature?

Last week, Pres. Trump announced that he intended to bar journalists from CNN, MSNow, and Politico from the White House. Should the president be able to bar news organizations from White House access because of their reporting?

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked new Postal Service restrictions on mail-in ballots pushed by a Trump Executive Order from taking effect for the November midterm elections, leaving existing state mail-voting procedures in place. With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, do you trust the current mail-in ballot system to accurately and securely handle voters’ ballots?

South Dakota voters will decide in November on a proposed constitutional amendment that would end the state’s expanded Medicaid coverage if the federal government’s share of funding for the expansion falls below 90%. The expansion, approved by voters in 2022, provides Medicaid eligibility to certain adults ages 19 to 64 with incomes up to the federal limit established by the constitutional amendment. The proposed amendment would remove that expanded coverage if the federal funding level drops below 90%. If the election were held today, how would you vote?

Data centers have been in the news frequently as communities debate their potential economic benefits as well as concerns about electricity use, water use and other local impacts. President Trump has also recently voiced support for data center development. What is your overall view of data centers?

President Donald Trump announced a 90-day plan to allow an additional 300,000 metric tons of ground beef to be imported with reduced tariffs, saying it will help lower beef prices for consumers. Cattle producers have criticized the decision, saying increased imports could make it harder to rebuild the U.S. cattle herd. Do you agree with Trump’s decision?

An increasing number of South Dakota school districts are adopting four-day school weeks, with about a quarter of districts using the schedule. An Aberdeen school is among those making the switch for the 2026-27 school year. Do you support the idea of a four-day school week?

President Trump signed an executive order Monday calling for revised childhood vaccine recommendations, including spacing out the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine into three separate doctor visits rather than a single combined shot. While supporters argue this gives parents more flexibility and time, public health experts warn that delaying or spacing out shots leaves children exposed to preventable diseases longer. Do you support spacing out childhood vaccines across multiple medical visits?