North Dakota

North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe helps conduct test of Grand Forks voting equipment

Published

2 years ago

June 1, 2024

North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe helps conduct test of Grand Forks voting equipment

GRAND FORKS – North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe and his team on Friday helped conduct a public test of voting equipment being used for early voting for the June 11 primary.

All 53 counties across North Dakota will be conducting their tests before early voting begins next week. In Grand Forks, residents can begin in-person voting at the Alerus Center on June 4. Votes can be cast from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday, June 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Additionally, absentee ballots sent via mail have to be postmarked by June 10 to be counted in the election.

Grand Forks County Auditor Debbie Nelson, the chief election officer for the county, walked through the process that she and her team take to ensure the equipment used is accurate, safe and secure before ballots are cast. Friday’s test was only for the equipment being used for early voting. There will be another test in the coming days for the Election Day equipment.

The county has 37 different ballots and had 34 versions of each for a total of 1,258 test ballots being used for each machine. The test ballots don’t count toward any final tabulation, but help ensure the equipment works and is accurate.

“The premarked ballots come to us, we pick out four of them and replace one with red pen, one with blue pen and one with pencil, and we then we do an express vote, which is the ballot from the marking device people are allowed to use,” Nelson said. “When we test, we always turn them each way so that the results are accurate, like we expect.”

Erika White, elections director for the state, said that if a ballot is damaged so the machine can’t read it, they have remedies to ensure North Dakotans can still have their vote counted.

“You have a bipartisan board and they will recreate your ballot so they can scan it and they get saved with each other,” White said. “I’ve received ballots that the postal service has shredded, so there’s a process to make sure that all valid ballots that are returned are counted.”

Howe said it’s also important that people know what’s on the ballot to ensure that there are no issues with the ballot they receive.

“This has happened before I took office and may happen again this election: Someone says, ‘I didn’t see this candidate and I’m pretty sure I live in his district and wanted to vote for him.’ That voter was handed the wrong ballot,” Howe said. “In that rare instance where you’re handed the wrong ballot, you know what to look for.”

North Dakota Elections Director Erika White shows how the voting equipment used in elections works. Here, she is showing the calibration test in the Grand Forks County Office Building on May 31, 2024.

Matthew Voigt / Grand Forks Herald

Sample ballots and election information can be found on the secretary of state’s website, vote.nd.gov. Grand Forks County and Grand Forks election information can be found on the county’s website

gfcounty.nd.gov/information/elections

or by contacting Nelson’s office at 701-780-8200. Nelson is also looking for election workers. More information about eligibility and applying can be found by contacting her office at 701-780-8200.

Voigt covers city government in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks.

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North Dakota

PHOTOS: Long Beach State vs. North Dakota State, Softball

Published

5 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

PHOTOS: Long Beach State vs. North Dakota State, Softball

The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2025-26 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.

Long Beach State hosted North Dakota State on March 10 where they suffered a 5-2 loss. Freshman Nina Sepulveda had two hits in the loss. Long Beach State will resume Big West play this weekend when they travel to UC Riverside for a three-game series starting Friday, March 13.

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North Dakota

Four area players land on North Dakota Division A all-state team

Published

17 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Four area players land on North Dakota Division A all-state team

GRAND FORKS — Four area athletes were selected to the North Dakota Division A all-state girls basketball team, which was released by the North Dakota High School Coaches Association on Tuesday.

The North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association will release all-state teams later this month.

Thompson’s Addison Sage led the way as a first team all-state pick, as well as receiving the division’s Outstanding Senior Athlete honor. Her coach, Jason Brend, was the Coach of the Year.

All-state second team choices from the area are Devils Lake junior Tylie Brodina, Four Winds-Minnewaukan sophomore Suri Gourd and Thompson senior Kya Hurst.

Sage, a 5-foot-6 guard, averaged 22.3 points per game, 3.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.2 steals per game. Sage has more than 1,900 career points and holds the Tommies’ all-time scoring record.

Brodina, a 5-8 guard, averaged 18.8 points and 2.6 steals per game. She shot 82 percent from the foul line and 32 percent from 3-point range.

Hurst, a 5-6 forward, averaged 16.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. She added 3.7 steals and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 39.5 percent from 3-point range. Hurst has scored more than 1,600 points and grabbed more than 840 rebounds in her career.

Gourd, a 5-8 guard, averaged 26.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 4.4 steals per game. Gourd has more than 1,600 career points in her career with two more seasons to play.

Gourd led Four Winds-Minnewaukan from a 5-17 record last season to a 16-8 mark this year.

Miller has covered sports at the Grand Forks Herald since 2004 and was the state sportswriter of the year in 2019 (NSMA, NDAPSSA), 2022 (NSMA, NDAPSSA), 2024 (NDAPSSA) and 2025 (NDAPSSA).

His primary beat is UND football but also reports on a variety of UND sports and local preps.

He can be reached at (701) 780-1121, tmiller@gfherald.com or on Twitter at @tommillergf.

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North Dakota

Annabelle Weber

Published

1 day ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Funeral Mass for Annabelle Weber, 95, of Dickinson will be 10:00 AM, Thursday, March 12, 2026 at Queen of Peace Church with Msgr. Thomas Richter celebrating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Dickinson. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson, with Rosary and Vigil service taking place at 6:00 PM. Annabelle passed away Friday, March 6, 2026 at St. Benedict’s Health Center, Dickinson. Annabelle S. Weber was born on December 8, 1930, in Killdeer, North Dakota, to Frank and Eva (Kowis) Schmalz. She grew up in Killdeer and graduated from Killdeer High School in 1947. At the age of 17, Annabelle began working at Zimbrich’s Department Store in Killdeer. She later moved to Dickinson, where she worked at S&L in retail sales and spent many years at Kessel’s Bridal Shop. While working at the Esquire Steak House, she met Gerald Weber, the love of her life. The couple was united in marriage on November 1, 1954, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Dickinson, where they made their home and built their life together. Annabelle was a woman who loved staying busy and caring for her family and home. She enjoyed hunting and fishing, along with hobbies such as crafts, sewing, and gardening. She was well known for keeping an immaculate home and took great pride in caring for those around her. Faith was an important part of her life. She joined the Catholic Daughters in 1957 and was active in church circles, often helping with funeral dinners and parish gatherings. Annabelle’s greatest joy was her family. Annabelle is survived by her sons, Greg (Barbara) Weber of Grand Forks, Russ (Rhonda) Weber of Dickinson; daughter, Sharon (Tony) Allen of Andover, MN; nine grandchildren, Christi (Ryan), Tiffani (Tim), Shane (Kayla), Tonya (Adam), Samantha (Scott), Kevin, Tracey (Analisa), Stacie, Tyler; 15 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Eva Schmalz; husband, Gerald Weber; siblings, William (Evelyn) Schmalz, Elaine (John) Buresh, and Vernon (Dolores) Schmalz; and daughter-in-law, Coleen Weber (Krance). Remembrances and condolences can be shared at www.stevensonfuneralhome.com.

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