North Dakota signature requirements
From Ballotpedia
North Dakota's signature requirements are based on the state's population as determined at the most recent federal decennial census. This means that unlike in other states where the signature requirement is more typically based on the number of voters in a recent election, signature requirements in North Dakota only change once every ten years. North Dakota is the only state where the number of required signatures is based on the state's overall population, rather than on the number of a state's registered voters, or number of votes cast in a recent election.
- According to 2000 census figures, the population of North Dakota was 642,200.
- For a statutory initiative or a veto referendum, North Dakota requires that signatures equal 2% of the resident population of the state, the lowest percentage for a statutory initiative in any state.
- Constitutional amendments require signatures on petitions equal to 4% of the resident population.
- For recall, signatures must equal 25% of the votes cast for that particular office in the last election. Officials in Congress are exempt.
- The signature filing deadline for the 2010 ballot in North Dakota is August 2, 2010.
| Year | Constitutional mendment | Initiated statute | Veto referendum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 25,688 | 12,844 | 12,844 |
| 2008 | 25,688 | 12,844 | 12,844 |
How signatures are verified
There is no voter registration process in North Dakota. That means that, unlike other states where signatures on petitions are verified by comparing them to the voter registration signature on file for a particular voter, election officials in North Dakota are unable to perform such a comparison since there are no voter registration cards.
Instead, the North Dakota Secretary of State checks the validity of a random sample of the signatures on initiative petitions by questioning the voters who appear to have signed the petition. This process of verifying that a voter who appears to have signed a petition really did sign a petition may be done through post cards, telephone calls and personal interviews.
See also
- Laws governing the initiative process in North Dakota
- History of Initiative & Referendum in North Dakota
External links
- Initiating and Referring Law in North Dakota 2007-2009 from the Secretary of State
- NCSL signature chart for 2008
- North Dakota signature requirements collated by the Citizens in Charge Foundation
- Pending initiatives in North Dakota
- North Dakota Secretary of State website
- North Dakota ballot measures web portal
