This bill amends various sections of the North Dakota Century Code concerning absentee ballots, election practices, and administration. It introduces a 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 clarifies that the county auditor of the candidate's residence will issue the certificate of election for districts spanning multiple counties. Additionally, it defines "complete residential address" and prohibits the use of private entities for election administration, while also banning the solicitation or use of private grants for election operations, allowing only nonmonetary donations.

Further amendments include updated procedures for absentee ballots, mandating that they be received by the close of polls on election day and allowing in-person ballot submissions until that time. The bill also specifies that completed mail ballots must be returned by the close of polls, rather than by 5 p.m. the day before the election, and prohibits voters from delivering completed ballots to polling locations. It requires write-in candidates to file their candidacy certificates by 4 p.m. on the twenty-first day before the election. Additionally, county auditors must publish sample ballots that help voters identify candidates from their specific legislative districts, while the arrangement of names on actual ballots may differ from those on sample ballots. The bill also repeals two sections of existing law to streamline the voting process.

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