South Dakota became the first state in the US to enact a statewide initiative and referendum process 125 years ago, thanks to the efforts of Rev. Robert W. Haire, a socialist priest. Today, nearly 75% of South Dakotans believe that citizen ballot initiatives are critical to the democratic process. The practice of citizen-originated ballot measures has spread to about half of US states, but recently Republican lawmakers have been trying to weaken the process. Democrats and left-leaning groups in Republican-led states are using ballot measures to force votes on popular issues.

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