November 9 was the deadline for South Dakota initiative petitions for the 2016 election. On November 9, two initiatives that would alter South Dakota elections were submitted. The requirement is 27,740 valid signatures.

One initiative sets up a non-partisan redistricting commission for legislative districts. Its backers submitted 40,400 signatures. If it passes, the legislative districts would be redrawn in 2017. After that, of course, the commission would operate in the year after each census. The measure has no impact on U.S. House districts because South Dakota only has one district.

The other initiative makes all elections non-partisan, except for President. No party labels would appear on the ballot, except for President. Because the measure is backed by two prominent Democrats, opponents of the measure are already saying that this is just a Democratic plan to remove party labels from the ballot because otherwise Democrats can’t win important office in South Dakota. Those two Democrats are Rick Weiland, the 2014 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate; and Drey Samuelson, chief of staff to former U.S. Senator Tim Johnson. Johnson is the last South Dakota Democrat who served in the U.S. Senate. The non-partisan initiative turned in 39,182 signatures.

In November 2014, two new parties got on the New York ballot. The Women’s Equality Party was set up by Democrats and it cross-nominated Democratic nominees. The Stop Common Core Party was set up by Republicans and it cross-nominated Republican nominees. Because both got over 50,000, they earned status as qualified parties at least through 2018.

This article looks at the local 2015 election returns for those two parties. The Stop Common Core Party had changed its name to the Reform Party early this year. Both parties continue their policy of complete loyalty to one of the two major parties. The analysis shows that the Women’s Equality Party line attracts more voters than the Reform Party line.

The Maine Secretary of State will say on or before November 18 whether the initiative for statewide instant runoff voting has enough valid signatures. If it does, it will be on the November 2016 ballot.