VoteMatch Responses (Click here for VoteMatch quiz)
VoteMatch Question & Answer (Click on question for explanation and background)	Based on these stances: (Click on topic for excerpt & citation)
Strongly Opposes topic 1: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right (-5 points on Social scale)	Human life begins at conception: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Protect the unborn; overturn Roe v. Wade: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Ban embryonic stem cell research: Opposes topic 1
Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-3 points on Economic scale)	Assist disabled with employment; adversity builds character: Favors topic 2 Ban racial profiling; keep affirmative action for college: Favors topic 2
Strongly Opposes topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (-5 points on Social scale)	Government shouldn't redefine marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Define marriage as one man and one woman: Strongly Opposes topic 3
Favors topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (-3 points on Social scale)	Judeo-Christian values established our government framework: Favors topic 4
Strongly Opposes topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (+5 points on Economic scale)	Working to keep federal government out of SD's health care: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Federal takeover of healthcare is not the answer: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Loosen "one-size-fits-all" approach to Medicaid: Opposes topic 5
No opinion on topic 6: Privatize Social Security (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
No opinion on topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (0 points on Economic scale)	Increase teacher salaries to retain and attract hires: Opposes topic 7 Support nationwide Common Core standards: Opposes topic 7 Spending does not guarantee student achievement: Favors topic 7 Schools should be run by local school boards: Strongly Favors topic 7 Repeal 100 student minimum for state aid to districts: Opposes topic 7
No opinion on topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (0 points on Social scale)	Keystone XL Pipeline fundamental to economic prosperity: No opin. on topic 8
No opinion on topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (0 points on Social scale)	Make mugshots and pardon process open to the public: Favors topic 9 High rates of incarceration does not increase public safety: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Reforms reduced population on parole: Opposes topic 9 End parole for repeat violent offenders: Strongly Favors topic 9
Strongly Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+5 points on Economic scale)	Opposes more gun restrictions: Strongly Favors topic 10 School Sentinels: let schools arm volunteer defenders: Strongly Favors topic 10 Second Amendment is clear: individual right to bear arms: Strongly Favors topic 10 Require background checks at gun shows: Opposes topic 10
Opposes topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (+2 points on Economic scale)	Online retailers should voluntarily remit sales tax: Favors topic 11 Create jobs & expand tax base rather than raise taxes: Strongly Opposes topic 11 No new taxes; no increases in existing taxes: Strongly Opposes topic 11
No opinion on topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+2 points on Economic scale)	Reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank: Favors topic 13
Favors topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (+2 points on Economic scale)	S.D. shouldn't expect any Syrian refugees: Favors topic 14
Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-3 points on Social scale)	Transfer professional license from other states for military: Favors topic 15 Support our troops because they protect our freedoms: Favors topic 15 Split two departments: Military & Veterans' Affairs: Favors topic 15
Strongly Opposes topic 16: Make voter registration easier (-5 points on Social scale)	Photo ID for voting: Strongly Opposes topic 16 No campaign spending limits; no state campaign funding: Strongly Opposes topic 16
Strongly Favors topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (+5 points on Social scale)	Against nuclear deal with Iran; keep state sanctions: Strongly Favors topic 17
Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-3 points on Economic scale)	Explore our potential for oil development: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Increase ethanol revolving fund from $7M to $17M: Favors topic 18 Wind & ethanol instead of cap-and-trade: Favors topic 18 Letter to Congress supporting renewable energy tax credit: Strongly Favors topic 18
Favors topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (-3 points on Social scale)	More funding for drug courts; a bargain compared to prison: Opposes topic 19 Swift and certain sanctions for drug addicts: Strongly Favors topic 19 Rated D by NORML, indicating a "hard-on-drugs" stance: Strongly Favors topic 19
No opinion on topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (0 points on Economic scale)	Free enterprise is key to national prosperity: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Help find jobs for those unemployed over 12 weeks: Strongly Favors topic 20