This bill amends various sections of the North Dakota Century Code to modernize the nomination process for candidates in primary elections. It eliminates the requirement for party endorsements and certificates of endorsement, replacing them with a system that mandates candidates to submit nominating petitions. Candidates for statewide and legislative offices must now present a petition to the Secretary of State, which must include their name, contact information, the title of the office sought, and signatures from qualified electors—specifically, a minimum of two percent of the total votes cast in the most recent election for that office, capped at three hundred signatures. Additionally, political organizations seeking access to the primary ballot must gather at least seven thousand signatures from qualified electors.

The bill also enhances transparency in campaign financing by clarifying the requirements for campaign disclosure statements, which candidates and political parties must file before elections, detailing their contributions and expenditures. It establishes a statement of interests that candidates must file and outlines the conditions for placing a candidate's name on the ballot. Furthermore, the bill increases the minimum number of signatures required for statewide nominations from one thousand to two thousand and details the process for filling vacancies on no-party ballots and special elections for U.S. House vacancies. Certain obsolete sections of existing law are repealed to reflect these updates.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 16.1-03-14, 16.1-03-21, 16.1-08.1-02.3, 16.1-08.1-02.4, 16.1-09-02, 16.1-11-06, 16.1-11-10, 16.1-11-11, 16.1-11-12, 16.1-11-18, 16.1-11-30, 16.1-11-39, 16.1-12-02, 16.1-12-09, 16.1-13-08.1
Adopted by the House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee: 16.1-03-14, 16.1-03-21, 16.1-08.1-02.3, 16.1-08.1-02.4, 16.1-09-02, 16.1-11-06, 16.1-11-10, 16.1-11-11, 16.1-11-12, 16.1-11-18, 16.1-11-30, 16.1-11-39, 16.1-12-02, 16.1-12-09, 16.1-13-08.1
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 16.1-03-14, 16.1-03-21, 16.1-08.1-02.3, 16.1-08.1-02.4, 16.1-09-02, 16.1-11-06, 16.1-11-10, 16.1-11-11, 16.1-11-12, 16.1-11-18, 16.1-11-30, 16.1-11-39, 16.1-12-02, 16.1-12-09, 16.1-13-08.1