Bill > HB1297

This bill prohibits approval voting and ranked-choice voting in North Dakota elections, with two key definitions and implications for local governments. The bill defines approval voting as a method where voters can vote for all candidates they approve of in a race, with winners determined by the most votes, and ranked-choice voting as a method where voters rank candidates by preference and ballots are recalculated in multiple rounds until a candidate achieves a majority. Specifically, the bill prevents any local, state, or federal election from using these voting methods, and it explicitly voids any county, city, or political subdivision ordinance that attempts to implement such voting systems. The bill also modifies existing language in North Dakota's election laws to reference these new restrictions, specifically amending sections related to county and city election powers to include a reference to the new limitations on voting methods. This legislation effectively standardizes traditional voting methods across North Dakota and prevents local jurisdictions from experimenting with alternative voting systems that could potentially change electoral outcomes.

Government Affairs, Justice, Military Affairs and Security

https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/bill-overview/bo1297.html