This bill amends various sections of the North Dakota Century Code to improve absentee ballot procedures, election practices, and candidate filing requirements. Notable changes include the new requirement for candidates running for the office of supervisor to submit a petition with signatures from 25 to 300 qualified electors, with a final filing date set at 64 days before the election. The bill also clarifies that the county auditor of the candidate's residence will issue the certificate of election for districts spanning multiple counties. Additionally, it introduces a definition for "complete residential address" and prohibits the use of private entities for election administration, along with soliciting or using private grants for election operations, except for nonmonetary donations.

Further amendments focus on absentee ballot procedures, mandating that ballots must be received by the close of polls on election day and allowing voters to deliver their ballots in person. The bill also adjusts the deadline for write-in candidates to file their certificates to four p.m. on the twenty-first day before the election. It modifies publication requirements for sample ballots to ensure clarity for voters regarding their specific candidates and changes the arrangement of candidate names on ballots to align with a specified section of the code. Additionally, two sections of the code are repealed to streamline the voting process. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the integrity and efficiency of elections in North Dakota.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 4.1-20-16, 4.1-20-18, 16.1-01-00.1, 16.1-01-15.1, 16.1-05-01, 16.1-06-02, 16.1-06-04, 16.1-07-07, 16.1-07-08, 16.1-12-02.2
Adopted by the House Political Subdivisions Committee: 4.1-20-16, 4.1-20-18, 16.1-01-00.1, 16.1-01-15.1, 16.1-05-01, 16.1-06-02, 16.1-06-04, 16.1-07-07, 16.1-07-08, 16.1-12-02.2
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 4.1-20-16, 4.1-20-18, 16.1-01-00.1, 16.1-01-15.1, 16.1-05-01, 16.1-06-02, 16.1-06-04, 16.1-07-07, 16.1-07-08, 16.1-12-02.2
Adopted by the Senate State and Local Government Committee: 4.1-20-16, 4.1-20-18, 16.1-01-00.1, 16.1-01-09, 16.1-01-15.1, 16.1-05-01, 16.1-06-02, 16.1-06-04, 16.1-07-07, 16.1-07-08, 16.1-12-02.2, 16.1-13-05
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Senator Roers: 4.1-20-16, 4.1-20-18, 16.1-01-00.1, 16.1-01-09, 16.1-01-15.1, 16.1-05-01, 16.1-06-02, 16.1-06-04, 16.1-07-07, 16.1-07-08, 16.1-07-09, 16.1-07-21, 16.1-07-24, 16.1-07-26, 16.1-11-27, 16.1-11.1-04, 16.1-11.1-07, 16.1-12-02.2, 16.1-13-05
Enrollment: 4.1-20-16, 4.1-20-18, 16.1-01-00.1, 16.1-01-09, 16.1-01-15.1, 16.1-05-01, 16.1-06-02, 16.1-06-04, 16.1-07-07, 16.1-07-08, 16.1-07-09, 16.1-07-21, 16.1-07-24, 16.1-07-26, 16.1-11-27, 16.1-11.1-04, 16.1-11.1-07, 16.1-12-02.2, 16.1-13-05