Lawrence County Democrats Overwhelmingly Back Amendment G – Abortion Access in South Dakota

The Lawrence County Democratic Party is pleased to announce our overwhelming support for Amendment G, a critical ballot measure aimed at restoring and safeguarding abortion access in South Dakota. This November, South Dakota voters will have the opportunity to vote on this vital amendment, joining four other states with similar initiatives on their ballots.

Amendment G, also known as the Roe v. Wade or the Abortion Rights Amendment, seeks to modify current South Dakota law by allowing abortions in the first trimester (up to 12 weeks) and to preserve the health and life of the mother up to 24 weeks, the gestational viability stage. In the third trimester, abortions would be legal only to save the mother’s life.

Passage of Amendment G would also enable healthcare providers to manage pregnancy complications safely, restoring the standard of care that existed before South Dakota’s 2005 trigger law took effect in 2022 when Roe v. Wade was overturned. Presently, any person assisting or procuring an abortion in South Dakota is committing a Class 6 Felony, punishable by up to two years in jail and a $4,000 fine. Although no one has been prosecuted under this statute, it has severely restricted not only abortion access but also physicians' ability to manage pregnancy complications, exacerbating the state’s shortage of obstetricians.

Statistics underscore the importance of this amendment:

• 93% of abortions occur in the first trimester, with half being medication abortions.
  
• 99.5% of abortions occur before 24 weeks.
  
• Third-trimester abortions are extremely rare and, with the passage of Amendment G, would be permitted only to save the life of the mother. In cases of third-trimester complications where the baby can survive outside the womb, the baby would be delivered and cared for.
  

South Dakota is one of five states with abortion initiatives on the ballot this November, alongside Colorado, Florida, Maryland, and Nevada. Notably, since 2022, voters in seven states (California, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, and Vermont) have all voted in favor of abortion access.

Historically, South Dakotans have shown strong support for women’s reproductive rights. In 2006, voters rejected a total abortion ban initiative with a 55% to 44% vote, and in 2008, a ban except in cases of incest and rape was similarly rejected by the same margin.

By supporting Amendment G, South Dakotans can return our state to a place where women can have safe and private reproductive healthcare. We encourage everyone to get out and vote this November – together, we can achieve this!

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