SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – South Dakota residents will vote on whether or not to establish a right to abortion in the state constitution come November 5.
Amendment G is one of four constitutional amendments people will be voting on.
Two women who’ve practiced medicine in South Dakota explain why residents should and shouldn’t vote for Amendment G.
Be informed on the seven 2024 ballot measures
Amendment E
Amendment F
Amendment G
Amendment H
IM 28
IM 29
Referred Law 21
Dr. Amy Kelly, a Sioux Falls OB-GYN who supports Amendment G, shares her view on how the current law impacts her job.
“The vagueness of that law has really put myself and other OB-GYNs and health care providers who take care of pregnant women in a sticky spot because no one has on their forehead when something goes from being just bad to life-threatening,” Kelly said.
On the opposition with Life Defense Fund, Dr. Patti Giebink says people shouldn’t vote for G because its wording is too vague.
“Under this amendment, it says there can be no regulations. None, zero. It really doesn’t prohibit anything. And I think this amendment is too extreme. I think that South Dakota can do better if we want to make exceptions, we can do that through the legislature,” Giebink said.
Currently under South Dakota law, “Unless there is appropriate and reasonable medical judgment, that performance of an abortion is necessary to preserve the life of the pregnant female is guilty of a Class 6 felony.”
One point discussed was how the current workforce in maternity care looks after Roe v Wade was overturned and South Dakota’s trigger law that banned abortions in 2022.
“Prior to the ban, there’s been a decline in obstetrical care. Obstetrical even wards in rural south, rural counties in the United States. So it’s been an ongoing problem. And I don’t know anybody who has a had qualms about coming to South Dakota because 93% of OB-GYNs do not do abortions,” Giebink said.
However, Kelly believes the current law makes South Dakota look unfavorable for those doctors.
“We can’t we can’t get a new IVF doctor here because no one wants to work in a state with an abortion ban. So this unfortunately doesn’t just affect women who are pregnant now. It affects women who want to be pregnant. It affects all women,” Kelly said.
In addition, even if Amendment G passes in November, it may not take effect due to the Life Defense Fund lawsuit. The organization is suing Dakotans for Health for invalid petition signatures with the trial scheduled for December.
In our latest poll, KELOLAND News teamed up with Emerson College and the Hill to conduct a poll of 825 likely South Dakota voters. KELOLAND News asked people whether they would vote yes or no on South Dakota Constitutional Amendment G, which would establish a right to abortion in the state constitution.
45% said yes, 48% said no and 7% were unsure.
