The bill amends various sections of the North Dakota Century Code to enhance the administration and integrity of elections. 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 deadline set at four p.m. sixty-four days before the election. Additionally, it clarifies that the county auditor where the candidate resides will issue the certificate of election for districts spanning multiple counties. The bill also defines "complete residential address," prohibits the use of private entities in election administration, and mandates that ballots be printed under the county auditor's direction with oversight from the secretary of state. Absentee ballots must be received by the close of polls on election day, and military-overseas ballots must be submitted for mailing by the same deadline.

Further changes include the requirement for electors to return mail ballots by the close of polls on election day, rather than by 5 p.m. the day before, and the prohibition of delivering completed ballots to polling locations. The bill modifies the deadline for write-in candidates to file their candidacy certificates to four p.m. on the twenty-first day before the election. It also mandates the publication of sample ballots weekly for two consecutive weeks prior to the election, conforming to a specific format, and changes the arrangement of candidate names on sample ballots. Lastly, the bill repeals two sections of current law to streamline the voting process and improve clarity in ballot management and candidate listings.

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