Governor's Comments Bring Voter Backlash

South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard believes voter fatigue and a lack of information led to several ballot issues being soundly defeated during this week's election.  Now his comments are leading to some voter backlash.

The governor backed both Referred Law 14 and Referred Law 16 which both failed by a wide margin. 

Referred Law 14, the large project development fund proposed giving incentives to companies that located to South Dakota, was defeated by 16 points. Referred Law 16, which proposed setting up a teacher bonus program, a scholarship program and several other reforms was defeated by two to one.

We asked the governor about the unsuccessful ballot measures following the election.

"The voters don't have time to dig into and understand the facts that bear upon an informed decision and so when voters don't have that time then most are included to say, 'Well, I don't have time to dig into this and so I'm going to vote no,'" Daugaard said.

And that's brought heated responses from voters Thursday on our website.

More than 700 people have recommended the story on Facebook and more than 40 people have commented on the story reacting to the governor's comments.

"Mr. Daugaard must be spending too much time underestimating the people of South Dakota. We are not uninformed. We are very much informed which is why we voted no," Susan Bartscher commented.

"What a slap in the face of SD voters....shame on you Governor for not trusting in your constituents," Lisa Wiemann Evans wrote.

Tonight on KELOLAND News, we'll have much more reaction to this story and tell you just how much money was spent on these campaigns to inform voters on the issues.