South Dakota voters will decide on eleven ballot measures this November. That includes Amendment C, the marriage amendment.

Amendment C would define marriage in South Dakota as only between a man and a woman. The measure would also prevent the state from recognizing civil unions or any other domestic partnership.

On Sunday voters gathered at South Dakota State University to learn more about the amendment.

Jon Hoadley from South Dakotans Against Discrimination said, “Amendment C is going to have a lot of unintended consequences. It could do anything such as impact domestic violence protections as we saw in Ohio to jeopardize medical decision making for our seniors in South Dakota."

Robert Regier, the executive director of the South Dakota Family Policy Council disagrees. “I don't think we're ready for another social experiment on our kids. This would help ensure that families are kept intact--that marriage is what it always has been--one man and one woman,” said Regier.

Those who are against the amendment say "C" isn't needed to do that.

“In South Dakota we already had a law that defines marriage between a man and woman ten years ago, so passing Amendment C is at best redundant,” said Hoadley.

Supporters disagree. 

Reiger said, “Right now our law is kind of vulnerable, and we've seen in other states where judges have overturned state laws. This would help ensure that a judge couldn't do that." 

South Dakota State University organizations held this debate to educate voters on the issue, but the forum didn’t change the minds of many people. Most there were like Leslie Warnke. She wants to support her side and learn more, but she already knows how she'll vote. 

Leslie Warnke said, “I'm a gay rights supporter, and I don't think this law is necessary." 

She'll take that opinion with her to the polls in November. 

If you'd like to vote before election day, absentee applications are available on our website at Keloland.com. Just click on the green "story links" icon in the upper right-hand section of our homepage.