North Dakota elections, 2016

North Dakota will hold two statewide elections in 2016: a primary election on Tuesday, June 14, and a general election on Tuesday, November 8. In addition, each township will elect officers on Tuesday, March 15, and each school district will select a date between April 1 and June 30 to hold their elections.[1] This would have been the first election since the state legislature revoked the ability to use a student or military ID to satisfy state ID voting requirements,[2] but a court ruling in August struck the down the provision, reverting to the 2013 rules.[3]

Primary Election

On Tuesday, June 14, North Dakota voters will decide which candidates for statewide and legislative office will appear on their ballot. In addition, voters will decide whether to ratify a single initiative, which was passed by the legislature, but referred to statewide vote via petition.

Measure 1

In 2015, the North Dakota Legislative Assembly passed SB 2351, which would allow corporations and limited liability companies to own dairy and swine production facilities up to 640 acres (260 ha) in size. On March 27, 2015, a committee of members led by officers of North Dakota Farmers Union filed an unsigned petition with the North Dakota Secretary of State, allowing the group to gather signatures with the intent to place the item on the June ballot. On June 16, 2015, the committee returned with 19,354 valid signatures, well above the 13,452 required.[4]

On the June 14 Primary Ballot, voters will be asked to approve or deny the bill, given the following explanation:

Senate Bill No. 2351, passed by the 2015 Legislative Assembly, would allow the ownership or leasing of up to 640 acres of land for the operation of a dairy farm or swine production facility by a domestic corporation or limited liability company. Senate Bill 2351 would also require the agriculture commissioner to develop reporting and monitoring rules to ensure compliance.

General Election

On Tuesday, November 8, North Dakota voters will select the state's one representative in the United States House of Representatives and in Class III of the United States Senate.

In addition, they will select the winner for the statewide offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Superintendent of Public Instruction, One of three Public Service Commissioners, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Agriculture Commissioner, State Auditor, Insurance Commissioner, Secretary of State, Tax Commissioner, and State Treasurer.

Voters who live in even-numbered legislative districts will also select their representatives to the North Dakota House of Representatives and North Dakota Senate.

Finally, voters will select whether to approve any ballot petitions that have received enough signatures. As of February 2016, two petitions are being circulated—one amending the state constitution to further protect the rights of crime victims and one that would introduce a statute legalizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes—though neither has yet turned in enough signatures to be placed on the November ballot.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "2016 North Dakota Election Calendar" (PDF). North Dakota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  2. ↑ Watts, Adam; Lyden, Grace (March 9, 2016). "ID law may complicate voting for North Dakota students". Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  3. ↑ Childress, Sarah (August 2, 2016). "North Dakota's Voter ID Law Is Latest to Be Overturned". Frontline. WGBH-TV. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Timeline for Referral of Senate Bill No. 2351" (PDF). North Dakota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Ballot Petitions Being Circulated". North Dakota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
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