North Dakota Senate rejects bill banning mail ballots

BISMARCK — The North Dakota Senate on Friday killed a invoice that may have banned mail-in ballots and one other that may have expanded reporting guidelines for sure political committees.

Senate Invoice 2308 to ban mail-in ballots, introduced by Sen. Jeff Magrum, R-Hazelton, failed in an 8-38 vote. The Senate State and Native Authorities Committee had given the invoice a unanimous “don’t cross” suggestion.

“My largest concern is we’ve got over 30 counties that that is their major manner of voting, and to throw it out as an possibility is a big change for these counties and with not a number of proof to justify that enormous of a change in my thoughts,” Committee Chair Kristin Roers, R-Fargo, informed her panel Thursday.

Magrum cited “potential mischief” round mail-in voting in bringing the invoice.

Greater than 70,000 North Dakota voters forged ballots by mail within the November 2022 election. That was almost 30% of all ballots forged.

The Legislature is dealing with dozens of of Republican-led, election-related payments, a nationwide development continued from 2021 within the wake of the 2020 presidential election and former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims of election fraud.

The Senate in a 12-33 vote Friday additionally killed Magrum’s Senate Invoice 2318, which might have required multicandidate committees to report the recipients of their expenditures, and the names of candidates and measures they assist or oppose.

Magrum confirmed his proposal is instantly in response to the Dakota Management PAC, which supported his opponent final 12 months. Dakota Management PAC, which focused Republican legislative races in 2020 and 2022, is nearly totally funded by Gov. Doug Burgum.

Discussion board Information Service reporter Jeremy Turley contributed to this story