North Dakota
Port: The campaign to make voting in North Dakota more difficult and elections much more expensive
![Port: The campaign to make voting in North Dakota more difficult and elections much more expensive Port: The campaign to make voting in North Dakota more difficult and elections much more expensive](https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/c4a74d9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5217x3213%200%200/resize/1731x1066!/quality/90/?url=https://fcc-cue-exports-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/inforum/binary/_RS_5434_binary_6723282.jpg)
MINOT — A sprawling constitutional amendment that would make sweeping changes to the way North Dakotans vote is the sort of thing you come up with when you spend too much time reading Donald Trump’s social media ravings.
Supporters of the measure
say it’s about election integrity,
but that’s facetious.
Our state’s elections already have integrity. Rather, this measure will make it far more difficult for North Dakota citizens to exercise their franchise for no good reason at all outside of motivations rooted in a belief that the 2020 election was somehow stolen — an article of faith for many Americans that is completely out of step with reality.
This measure would ban all early voting, except through absentee ballots. Voting by mail — a standard practice in many rural parts of North Dakota for decades now — would also be proscribed.
Every county would have to have a polling place open in every precinct, something that would be a huge local expense.
Don’t take my word for it. Read it for yourself.
Many of the initiatives in this measure seek to address concerns that aren’t concerns at all.
The measure would mandate the use of paper ballots, but we already do that. Even in parts of the state where votes are cast through touch screens, that’s just a tool to produce a paper ballot that can be reviewed by the voter before it’s cast. Using a touch screen is really no different from using a pen and paper.
This measure would require that ballots be kept on hand for six years. That seems excessive. Officials already keep them for 22 months, which is plenty of time for those concerned about election fraud to request them if they want them.
Our vote tabulators are not connected to the internet.
There is already a prohibition on the state using any private money to run elections.
Our state has never mass-mailed ballots. Not even during the pandemic, when the only thing mass-mailed to voters was a form to request an absentee ballot.
But this ballot measure isn’t just about elections. It’s about a lot of other things, too.
It allows any candidate representing any political party to place their name on the ballot simply by paying a $150 fee. The requirement that candidates gather petition signatures to make the ballot is banned.
It lengthens the time allowed to gather signatures for audit and recall petitions to one year. Referenda and ballot measures would have three years.
The measure requires all petitions be circulated only by U.S. citizens or “sovereign individuals,” the latter apparently a nod to
the sovereign citizen movement,
an extreme ideology
once subscribed by the likes of cop-killer Gordon Kahl.
Petitioners would not have to be North Dakota citizens, however.
The measure would allow petitioners to be paid by signature, something that’s currently prohibited by law.
The measure would allow election results to be thrown out and a new election held based on a mere “preponderance of evidence” standard, which is an open invitation for endless election conspiracy-mongering.
Petitioners would have no criminal or civil liability for their actions while circulating a petition, which is an open invitation for fraud.
Petitioners would be free to work on any public property “with no restrictions of any type,” which is an open invitation for harassment.
The measure would prohibit the legislature from initiating a ballot measure to amend the state constitution. The only way our constitution could be amended would be through ballot measure campaigns that, per the other provisions in the amendment, could pay their way onto the ballot and would have no civil or criminal liability for any fraud committed along the way.
Ironically, the Legislature
initiated a ballot measure this year
to be voted on next year that, if approved, would prohibit measures like this one that seek to bamboozle voters by including multiple unrelated topics.
Because that’s what this measure is. A list of grievances from Trump-addled, right-wing extremists that is about our elections, but also about a whole lot more.
It’s about cracking open the protections of our republican form of government and exposing it to the vagaries of angry populism.
![](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/np-logo.png)
North Dakota
South Dakota Democratic delegates unanimously endorse Harris as presidential pick • South Dakota Searchlight
![South Dakota Democratic delegates unanimously endorse Harris as presidential pick • South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota Democratic delegates unanimously endorse Harris as presidential pick • South Dakota Searchlight](https://southdakotasearchlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/KamalaSign-1536x1027-1.jpg)
The South Dakota delegates to the Democratic National Convention met virtually Monday night and voted unanimously to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as their nominee in the 2024 presidential race.
South Dakota Democrats hopeful, not yet ready to endorse Harris as presidential nominee
In voting to endorse Harris, South Dakota Democrats fell in line with other state and national Democratic leaders who quickly followed the lead from President Joe Biden, who dropped out of the 2024 race via social media Sunday afternoon and endorsed Harris as his successor shortly thereafter.
Democrats in Nebraska, Maryland, Florida, New Hampshire, Alabama, North Carolina and Virginia were among the states where Democrats backed Harris as of Monday evening.
Harris has also picked up endorsements from key leaders at the national level. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, mentioned as a possible Democratic contender himself, endorsed Harris quickly on Sunday. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi endorsed Harris Monday. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had not endorsed Harris as of Monday evening, but Jeffries said earlier in the day that Harris had “excited the House Democratic Caucus and she’s exciting the country.”
Late Monday evening, the New York Times, CNN and other national media organizations reported that Harris had secured the backing of more than the 1,976 delegates needed to win the nomination in the first round of voting at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month. The news came by way of a poll from The Associated Press, which broke the story.
The poll listed 2,668 delegates pledged to Harris and 54 undecided as of 10 p.m. CST Monday.
The Democratic National Committee will move forward with the process to formally nominate a presidential candidate Wednesday when its Rules Committee meets in a public virtual session amid ongoing efforts to set up a virtual roll call vote ahead of the convention next month in Chicago, according to reporting from States Newsroom.
South Dakota Democrats backed Biden with around 75% of the vote in the state’s June 4 primary. In a news release, the South Dakota Democratic Party announced that its 20 voting delegates to the August convention had voted unanimously to back Harris.
“We thank President Biden for his leadership throughout his career and for choosing Kamala Harris four years ago to be his Vice President,” said Delegate Chair Jessica Meyers. “Harris has proven that she is more than equipped to take on the Presidency and we as a delegation are looking forward to casting the official vote for her.”
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North Dakota
Tuesday is Military Appreciation Day at the ND State Fair
![Tuesday is Military Appreciation Day at the ND State Fair Tuesday is Military Appreciation Day at the ND State Fair](https://gray-kfyr-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QFU2HH3GNZGCXK2CMPEVRBUYUU.jpg?auth=dd9039b9af6a1d90d1531d1aa43979abdda8d90040eb51419ce56612ee89c9fe&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
MINOT, N.D. (KMOT) – This is a reminder for servicemembers and their families that the North Dakota State Fair is continuing its long-standing tradition of honoring those who serve with a special Military Appreciation Day on Tuesday.
Military members and their families can enjoy lunch from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the north festival tent.
The event is sponsored by the N.D. Beef Commission, N.D. Stockmen’s Association, and N.D. CattleWomen.
They can also enjoy free carnival rides from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., half-off unlimited ride wristbands, and $2 off go-cart rides.
Copyright 2024 KFYR. All rights reserved.
North Dakota
Applications now available for 2024 North Dakota swan license
![Applications now available for 2024 North Dakota swan license Applications now available for 2024 North Dakota swan license](https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/19e2211/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1050x657+0+0/resize/1704x1066!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum-communications-production-web.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F77%2F1c%2F078eeaa14b03ad995f83ab964fe8%2Ffws-tundra-swan.jpg)
BISMARCK – Hunters can now apply for a 2024 North Dakota swan license
on the Game and Fish Department’s website
at gf.nd.gov, the department said Monday, July 22.
North Dakota residents and nonresidents are eligible to apply. The resident swan license is $10, while the nonresident fee is $30. The application deadline is Aug. 21.
North Dakota’s statewide tundra swan hunting season opens Sept. 28, and 2,200 licenses are available. Successful applicants will receive a tag to take one swan during the season. Since swans are classified as waterfowl, nonresidents may hunt them only during the period their nonresident waterfowl license is valid.
All swan hunters, regardless of age, are required to have a general game and habitat license when applying. In addition, nonresidents must have a waterfowl license, and residents 16 and older need a small game or combination license.
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