25.0495.01000
Sixty-ninth
Legislative Assembly
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Representatives Koppelman, Heilman, Heinert, Kasper, Louser
Senators Castaneda, Clemens, Enget, Paulson, Wobbema, Larson
A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 16.1-01 of the North Dakota
Century Code, relating to prohibiting approval voting and ranked-choice voting in elections; and
to amend and reenact subsection 7 of section 11-09.1-05 and subsection 9 of section
40-05.1-06 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to home rule powers in counties and
cities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:
SECTION 1. AMENDMENT. Subsection 7 of section 11-09.1-05 of the North Dakota
Century Code is amended and reenacted as follows:
7.Provide for all matters pertaining to county elections, except as to qualifications of
electors and the limitations provided under section 2 of this Act .
SECTION 2. A new section to chapter 16.1-01 of the North Dakota Century Code is created
and enacted as follows:
Approval voting - Ranked-choice voting - Prohibition.
1.For purposes of this section:
a."Approval voting" means a method in which a qualified elector may vote for all
candidates the voter approves of in each race for public office, and the
candidates receiving the most votes are elected until all necessary seats are
filled in each race.
b."Ranked-choice voting" means a method in which a qualified elector may rank
candidates in a race for public office in order of preference, and all submitted
ballots are tabulated in multiple rounds following the elimination of a candidate
until a single candidate attains a majority of votes.
2.Approval voting or ranked-choice voting may not be used in an election held within this
state to elect or nominate a candidate to any local, state, or federal elective office.
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HOUSE BILL NO. 1297
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24 Sixty-ninth
Legislative Assembly
3.An ordinance enacted or adopted by a county, city, or other political subdivision,
including an ordinance enacted or adopted under a home rule charter, which conflicts
with this section is void.
SECTION 3. AMENDMENT. Subsection 9 of section 40-05.1-06 of the North Dakota
Century Code is amended and reenacted as follows:
9.To provide for all matters pertaining to city elections, except as to qualifications of
electors and the limitations provided under section 2 of this Act.
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