2015-2017 _____________________ NORTH DAKOTA ELECTION LAWS August 2015 North Dakota otes 2016 SECRETARY OF STATE Alvin A Jaeger State of North Dakota 600 E Boulevard Ave Dept 108 Bismarck ND 58505-0500 ELECTIONS UNIT (701) 328-4146 [email protected] www.vote.nd.gov Alternate formats for persons with disabilities are available upon request. * DISCLAIMER * The following excerpts of North Dakota law are from the North Dakota Century Code (NDCC) and pertain to elections and election procedures. Although every attempt has been made for accuracy, the reprint of these laws does not carry the same authority as the actual NDCC and should not be equated with the official NDCC. This compilation is only intended as a helpful resource and reference for consolidated election related laws. For official and legal purposes, the official NDCC should be used. In addition, the following excerpts of North Dakota law do not contain the material found in the notes following the various sections contained in the NDCC. These notes found in the NDCC may contain temporary provisions and effective dates. For a more comprehensive understanding of election related changes made during the 2015 session of the Legislative Assembly, please refer to 2015 Session Laws. * DISCLAIMER * 2015-2017 North Dakota Election Laws Page 1 (This page intentionally left blank) Page 2 2015-2017 North Dakota Election Laws Table of Contents TITLE 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS ............................................................................ 5 CHAPTER 1-01 – General Principles and Definitions .................................................. 5 CHAPTER 1-02 – Rules of Interpretation ..................................................................... 7 CHAPTER 1-03 – Holidays .......................................................................................... 8 CHAPTER 1-08 – Miscellaneous ................................................................................. 9 TITLE 11 COUNTIES .............................................................................................. 10 CHAPTER 11-09.1 – Home Rule Counties ................................................................ 10 CHAPTER 11-10 – General Provisions ...................................................................... 16 CHAPTER 11-11 – Board of County Commissioners ................................................. 18 CHAPTER 12.1-14 – Official Oppression — Elections — Civil Rights ........................ 19 CHAPTER 12.1-32 – Penalties and Sentencing ........................................................ 20 CHAPTER 12.1-33 – Rights of Convicts .................................................................... 21 TITLE 15.1 ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION............................... 22 CHAPTER 15.1-07 – School Districts ........................................................................ 22 CHAPTER 15.1-09 – School Boards.......................................................................... 23 TITLE 16.1 ELECTIONS ......................................................................................... 29 CHAPTER 16.1-01 – General Provisions ................................................................... 29 CHAPTER 16.1-02 – Central Voter File ..................................................................... 42 CHAPTER 16.1-03 – Party Committee Organization ................................................. 48 CHAPTER 16.1-04 – Precincts and Voting Places..................................................... 52 CHAPTER 16.1-05 – Election Officers ....................................................................... 53 CHAPTER 16.1-06 – Ballots — Voting Machines — Electronic Voting Systems ........ 58 CHAPTER 16.1-07 – Absent Voters’ Ballots and Absentee Voting ............................ 66 CHAPTER 16.1-08 – Campaign Contributions ........................................................... 78 CHAPTER 16.1-08.1 – Campaign Contribution Statements ....................................... 78 CHAPTER 16.1-09 – Statement of Interests .............................................................. 95 CHAPTER 16.1-10 – Corrupt Practices ..................................................................... 97 CHAPTER 16.1-11 – Nominations for Office — Primary Election ............................ 100 CHAPTER 16.1-11.1 – Mail Ballot Elections ............................................................ 112 CHAPTER 16.1-12 – Certificates of Nomination — Vacancies ................................ 114 CHAPTER 16.1-13 – General Elections ................................................................... 119 CHAPTER 16.1-14 – Presidential Electors .............................................................. 126 CHAPTER 16.1-15 – Canvass of Votes — Canvassing Boards ............................... 131 CHAPTER 16.1-16 – Recounts and Contest of Elections ........................................ 143 2015-2017 North Dakota Election Laws Page 3 TITLE 25 MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ILLNESS OR DISABILITY ......................... 148 CHAPTER 25-01.2 – Developmental Disability ........................................................ 148 TITLE 39 MOTOR VEHICLES ............................................................................... 149 CHAPTER 39-01 – Definitions and General Provisions ........................................... 149 TITLE 40 MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT ................................................................ 150 CHAPTER 40-01 – General Provisions .................................................................... 150 CHAPTER 40-04.1 – Modern Council Form of Government .................................... 151 CHAPTER 40-05.1 – Home Rule in Cities ............................................................... 152 CHAPTER 40-08 – Governing Body and Executive Officer in Council Cities ........... 158 CHAPTER 40-09 – Governing Body and Executive Officer in Commission Cities .. 162 CHAPTER 40-12 – Initiative and Referendum ......................................................... 165 CHAPTER 40-13 – General Provisions Governing Officers in Municipalities ........... 168 CHAPTER 40-14 – Officers in Council Cities, General ............................................ 169 CHAPTER 40-15 – Officers in Commission Cities, General ..................................... 170 CHAPTER 40-21 Municipal Elections ...................................................................... 172 TITLE 44 OFFICES AND OFFICERS .................................................................... 176 CHAPTER 44-01 – Eligibility and Qualifications of Officers ...................................... 176 CHAPTER 44-02 – Vacancies in Office ................................................................... 177 CHAPTER 44-05 – Administration of Oaths ............................................................. 180 CHAPTER 44-08 – Miscellaneous Provisions .......................................................... 181 TITLE 46 PRINTING LAWS .................................................................................. 183 CHAPTER 46-06 – Official Newspaper .................................................................... 183 TITLE 54 STATE GOVERNMENT ......................................................................... 185 CHAPTER 54-01 Sovereignty and Jurisdiction of State ........................................... 185 CHAPTER 54-02 State Emblems, Synbols, and Awards ......................................... 186 TITLE 58 TOWNSHIPS ......................................................................................... 187 CHAPTER 58-04 – Township Meetings and Elections ............................................. 187 CHAPTER 58-05 – Township Officers Generally ..................................................... 191 Page 4 2015-2017 North Dakota Election Laws TITLE 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS CHAPTER 1-01 – General Principles and Definitions Election Related Excerpts 1-01-10. Quorum. Except as otherwise provided, a majority of any board or commission shall constitute a quorum. 1-01-11. Authority of deputies. Any duty imposed upon a ministerial officer, and any act permitted to be done by that officer, unless otherwise provided, may be performed by that officer's lawful deputy. 1-01-12. Variation from prescribed form. If a form is prescribed, deviations therefrom not affecting the substance or calculated to mislead does not vitiate the form used. 1-01-29. Several — Definition. The word “several” in relation to number means two or more. 1-01-33. Year — Month — Week — Definition — Fraction of day disregarded. The word “week” means seven consecutive days and the word “month” a calendar month. The word “year” means twelve consecutive months. Fractions of a year are to be computed by the number of months; thus, half a year is six months. Fractions of a day are to be disregarded in computations which include more than one day and involve no questions of priority. 1-01-35. Singular — Definition. Words used in the singular number include the plural and words used in the plural number include the singular, except when a contrary intention plainly appears. 1-01-44. Successive weeks construed. Whenever in any act or statute of the state of North Dakota providing for the publication of a notice the phrase “successive weeks” is used, the word weeks must be construed to mean calendar weeks, and the publication upon any day in a week is sufficient publication for that week if at least five days intervene between such publication and the publications immediately preceding and immediately following. All publications