South Dakotans have voted to expand Medicaid.
Constitutional Amendment D passed with 56% voting in favor of it, while 44% were opposed. The proposal passed by more than 40,000 votes.
That means roughly 42,000 additional South Dakotans will have access to health benefits.
Expanding Medicaid has been nearly eight years in the making, when former Republican Gov.Dennis Daugaard first proposed the idea. He ultimately did not have enough support in the legislature to get it passed.
The vote means the Republican supermajority legislature will have to work expanded benefits into the state budget.
Supporters of Medicaid expansion said it would provide health care access to those who need it most. Opponents voiced concerns over the cost.
