Get ready for mass confusion on election day.
For immediate release:
Date: October 31, 2016
Survey: Nielson Brothers Polling (NBP), South Dakota Survey, October 24 – 26 , 2016
Subjects:Â Statewide political campaigns, initiatives and same sex marriage.
Contact information:Â nbpolling@gmail.com,
Republicans dominate in South Dakota statewide races, redistricting Amendment T appears to be headed to passage, while same sex marriage remains unpopular
South Dakota voters will reelect three Republican incumbents running for statewide office, and will support Republican candidate Donald Trump for president, according to the October 24 – 26, 2016 Nielson Brothers Polling (NBP) survey.
Presidential candidate Donald Trump leads Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton 49* to 35 percent (Libertarian Gary Johnson – 7 percent, Constitution Party candidate Darrell Castle – one percent, undecided – 8 percent).
Incumbent US Senator John Thune leads Democratic challenger Jay Williams 54 to 35 percent, with 11 percent undecided.
Incumbent US House member Kristi Noem’s leads Democratic challenger Paula Hawks 51 to 41 percent, with 8 percent undecided.
Public Utilities Commissioner incumbent Chris Nelson leads Democratic challenger Henry Red Cloud 56 to 24 percent, with 20 percent undecided.
Two ballot measures appear headed toward passage. Amendment T, which moves redistricting authority from the state legislature to a nine person commission, has 42 percent of voters saying they will vote for it, 27 percent against, and 31 percent still undecided.
Initiated Measure 21, which limits annual loan rates for certain lenders at 36 percent, has 39 percent voting for it, 26 percent against, and 35 percent undecided.
The fate of a third ballot measure appears uncertain. Amendment V, which removes candidate party affiliation except for president, has 38 percent support and an equal 38 percent opposed, with 24 percent undecided.
The rest of the ballot measures and initiatives polled in NBP’s survey lag in support.
Amendment U, which allows unlimited interest rates for written loan agreements, has only 24 percent of voters saying they will vote for it, 45 percent against, and 30 percent undecided.
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Initiated Measure 23, which would give corporate and nonprofit organizations the right to charge a fee for any service they provide, has 20 percent support, 50 percent opposed, and 30 percent undecided.
Referred Law 20, which would lower the state youth minimum wage to $7. 50 an hour for non-tipped employees under age 18, has 31 percent support, 51 percent opposed, and 19 percent undecided.
The fate of each measure depends in large part on the high numbers of undecided voters.
When South Dakota voters were also asked whether they would rather live in Sioux Falls or Rapid City, 55 percent said Sioux Falls, 15 percent Rapid City, and 30 percent were unsure.
Finally, same sex marriage remains unpopular among South Dakota voters. Fifty percent of voters say it should be illegal, compared with 36 percent who say it should be legal, and 14 percent unsure.
NBP conducted this South Dakota survey of likely voters from October 24 to 26, 2017. For more information contact NBP at nbpolling@gmail.com or 605 496-0911. Follow NBP on Twitter @nielsonbrothers.
*Numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number.
Questions, Answers (%, rounded), Response Numbers,Margins of Error (%)
Is South Dakota headed in the right or wrong direction? If right direction press one. If wrong press two. If undecided press three.
Right 44%*
Wrong 29
Undecided 27
604 responses, 3.99 percent margin of error
How do you rate the job done by President Obama? If you strongly approve press one. If you somewhat approve press two. If you somewhat disapprove press three. If you strongly disapprove press four.
Strongly approve27%
Somewhat approve 18
Somewhat disapprove 12
Strongly disapprove 43
606 responses, 3.98 percent margin of error
For US President would you vote for Republican Donald Trump Libertarian Gary Johnson Democrat Hillary Clinton or Constitution candidate Darrell Castle? If for Trump press one. If for Johnson press two. If for Clinton press three. If for Castle press four. If undecided press five.
Trump 49%
Johnson 7
Clinton 35
Castle 1
Undecided 8
587 responses, 4.04 percent margin of error
For US Senate if you would vote for Republican John Thune press one. If for Democrat Jay Williams press two. If undecided press three.
Thune 54%
Williams 35
Undecided 11
585 responses, 4.05 percent margin of error
For US House if you would vote for Republican Kristi Noem press one. If for Democrat Paula Hawks press two. If undecided press three.
Noem 51%
Hawks 41
Undecided  8
584 responses, 4.05 percent margin of error
For Public Utilities Commissioner if you would vote for Republican Chris Nelson press one. If for Democrat Henry Red Cloud press two. If undecided press three.
Nelson 56%
Red Cloud 24
Undecided 20
574 responses, 4.09 percent margin of error
How do you rate the job done by US Representative Kristi Noem? If you strongly approve press one. If you somewhat approve press two. If you somewhat disapprove press three. If you strongly disapprove press four.
Strongly approve 25%
Somewhat approve 31
Somewhat disapprove 20
Strongly disapprove 25
571 responses, 4.10 percent margin of error
How do you rate the job done by Governor Dennis Daugaard? If you strongly approve press one. If you somewhat approve press two. If you somewhat disapprove press three. If you strongly disapprove press four.
Strongly approve 28%
Somewhat approve 33
Somewhat disapprove 24
Strongly disapprove 16
570 responses, 4.10 percent margin of error
Currently the state legislature redraws legislative districts every ten years. Amendment T will move that redistricting authority to a commission of nine members made up of three Republicans three Democrats and three members unaffiliated with either party. If you will vote for Amendment T press one. If against press two. If undecided press three.
Vote for42%
Vote against 27
Undecided 31
521 responses, 4.29 percent margin of error
Amendment U puts no limit on the interest rate a lender may charge as long as the agreement is in writing. Without a written agreement the interest rate is capped at 18 percent. If you will vote for amendment U press one. If against press two. If undecided press three.
Vote for 24%
Vote against 45
Undecided 30
513 responses, 4.33 percent margin of error
Amendment V removes all party labels for candidates running in federal state and local races except for US President. All candidates would run in a single primary election with the top two advancing to the general election. If you will vote for Amendment V press one. If against press two. If undecided press three.
Vote for 38%
Vote against 38
Undecided 24
508 responses, 4.35 percent margin of error
Initiated measure 21 prohibits certain lenders from making a loan at an annual rate greater than 36 percent. This does not apply to certain lenders including state and national banks as well as businesses financing goods and services they sell. If you will vote for measure 21 press one. If against press two. If undecided press three.
Vote for 39%
Vote against 26
Undecided 35
502 responses, 4.37 percent margin of error
Initiated Measure 23 would give corporate and nonprofit organizations the right to charge a fee for any service they provide. If you will vote for measure 23 press one. If against press two. If undecided press three.
Vote for20%
Vote against 50
Undecided 30
496 responses, 4.40 percent margin of error
Referred Law 20 lowers the state youth minimum wage from 8 dollars and 55 cents per hour to 7 dollars and 50 cents for non-tipped employees under age 18. No annual cost of living adjustment would be required. If you will vote for Referred Law 20 press one. If against press two. If undecided press three.
Vote for31%
Vote against 51
Undecided 19
495 responses, 4.40 percent margin of error
Would you rather live in the Rapid City or Sioux Falls Metro area? If Rapid City press one. If Sioux Falls press two. If unsure press three.
Sioux Falls55%
Rapid City 15
Unsure 30
488 responses, 4.43 percent margin of error
If gay marriage should not be legal in South Dakota press one. If legal press two. If unsure press three.
Legal36%
Not legal 50
Unsure 14
474 responses, 4.50 percent margin of error
*Numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number.