North Dakota voters, including residents of Burleigh and Morton counties, can now receive and cast absentee ballots for the upcoming general election. The process began Thursday, giving eligible individuals an early opportunity to participate in the November 3 election.
To obtain an absentee ballot, voters can complete an application either online through the North Dakota Secretary of State's website or their respective county's website. Alternatively, applications are available in person at their county auditor’s office. For those in Bismarck, this means visiting the Burleigh County Auditor's office, and for Mandan residents, the Morton County Auditor's office. Once an application is submitted, county election officials review and verify the information before sending a ballot to the voter, according to Secretary of State Michael Howe.
It is crucial for voters to return their completed absentee ballots before the polls close on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3. Ballots can be returned in person to the county auditor's office, mailed, or placed in a designated county dropbox. Secretary Howe emphasized that absentee ballots will not be accepted at polling places on Election Day itself and encouraged voters to fill out and return their ballots as soon as possible after receiving them.
For those who prefer to complete the entire process at once, voters can visit their county auditor's office, fill out an absentee application, receive a ballot, complete it, and return it on the spot. Secretary Howe described this as "a form of in-person early voting" for those who choose that option. While state law allows for two weeks of in-person early voting across seven counties, specific dates apply to our local area. In Burleigh County, in-person early voting will commence on Thursday, October 22. Morton County residents will have this option starting Tuesday, October 27.
The general election ballot features several important decisions for North Dakota residents. Voters will weigh in on two statewide measures. Measure 1 proposes a requirement for at least 60% voter approval for constitutional amendments to pass. Measure 2 aims to provide funding for free school meals, a topic of particular relevance to families with children in Bismarck and Mandan public schools.
Beyond the ballot measures, statewide races include North Dakota’s sole U.S. House seat, along with contests for attorney general, secretary of state, agriculture commissioner, tax commissioner, and superintendent of public instruction. Additionally, two seats on the Public Service Commission and two seats on the state Supreme Court are up for election. For local representation, 75 of the 141 seats in the North Dakota Legislature will also be decided by voters across the state.
North Dakota is the only state in the nation that does not require voter registration. Despite this, the state saw nearly 43% voter turnout in the 2022 midterm election, with approximately 600,000 eligible voters statewide.
Secretary Howe encouraged every eligible voter to participate in the upcoming election. He also advised voters to review a ballot measure guide distributed by his office, as well as websites that present arguments both for and against the measures. Secretary Howe also encouraged voters to seek out more information, cautioning against relying solely on one source for understanding the measures. For additional resources, the League of Women Voters of North Dakota offers an online voter guide, which includes information on local races.
It is notable that this fall's ballot does not include races for president, governor, or a U.S. Senate seat, an unusual occurrence last seen in 2014. Overseas and military voters had an even earlier start to their voting process, as they have been able to request absentee ballots since September 18. Historically, Republicans currently hold all of North Dakota’s partisan statewide offices and congressional seats, and maintain supermajorities in the Legislature. The last time a Democrat won a statewide election in North Dakota was Heidi Heitkamp's U.S. Senate victory in 2012.
