Supporting the Electoral College, denouncing the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, and inviting interested states to form the Electoral College Interstate Compact.
Summary
HCR6013 is a concurrent resolution expressing South Dakota’s support for the Electoral College and opposition to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC). The resolution states that the Electoral College protects state sovereignty, preserves the federal balance, and better reflects regional interests than a national popular vote. It also argues that the NPVIC could weaken the role of individual states, create the possibility of nationwide recounts, and raise constitutional concerns.
The resolution goes beyond a statement of support by inviting other states to join an “Electoral College Interstate Compact” that would prohibit participating states’ electors from casting votes based on the national popular vote count. It further proposes that the compact be formed once four other states declare intent to join, and it directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to specified state leaders in a broad list of states.
Impact
Because HCR6013 is a concurrent resolution rather than a statute, it does not change South Dakota law or create enforceable legal obligations by itself. Its practical effect is political and intergovernmental: it formally records the Legislature’s position on presidential election rules, urges other states to coordinate against the NPVIC, and signals support for future legal challenges to the compact’s constitutionality. It may also influence advocacy efforts and interstate discussions about election administration and the Electoral College.
Sentiment
The sentiment around the resolution appears strongly supportive and unanimous. The bill advanced with no recorded opposition in committee or on the floor, passing the House and Senate by wide margins. The voting history suggests broad legislative agreement with the resolution’s pro-Electoral College message and its rejection of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.
Contention
The main point of contention is the underlying debate over how presidents should be elected: supporters of the resolution favor the Electoral College as a protector of state influence and regional balance, while the resolution itself criticizes the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact as undermining those principles. The text also raises constitutional objections to the compact, especially under the Compact Clause and the Electoral College provisions of the U.S. Constitution. No internal legislative dissent is reflected in the available votes, so the controversy is primarily about the policy and constitutional merits of the NPVIC rather than the resolution’s passage.