North Dakota Single-Subject Requirement for Constitutional Amendments Measure (June 2026)

North Dakota Single-Subject Requirement for Constitutional Amendments Measure
Election date June 9, 2026
Topic Ballot measure process and Initiative and referendum process
Status On the ballot
Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment	Origin State legislature

The North Dakota Single-Subject Requirement for Constitutional Amendments Measure is on the ballot in North Dakota as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on June 9, 2026.

A "yes" vote supports creating a single-subject requirement for initiated constitutional amendments and legislatively referred constitutional amendments in North Dakota and prohibiting the secretary of state from approving an initiative for circulation if the initiative is determined to include more than one subject.

A "no" vote opposes creating a single-subject requirement for initiated constitutional amendments and legislatively referred constitutional amendments in North Dakota.

Overview

What would the amendment do?

See also: Text of measure

The amendment would create a single-subject requirement for initiated constitutional amendments. The secretary of state would be responsible for determining whether a constitutional amendment initiative embraces one or more subjects and would be prohibited from approving an initiative for circulation if the initiative is determined to include more than one subject.

The amendment would also create a separate-vote requirement for legislatively referred constitutional amendments, requiring them to contain one subject.

What is a single-subject rule for initiatives and how many states have them?

See also: Single-subject rule

A single-subject rule is a state law that requires ballot initiatives to address a single subject, topic, or issue. There are 26 states that provide for at least one type of statewide citizen-initiated measure. Of those 26 states, 16 have single-subject rules. As of 2025, North Dakota was one of 10 states that provide for at least one type of statewide citizen-initiated measure and that did not have a single-subject rule. The last ballot measure to provide for a single-subject rule for initiatives was Arizona Proposition 129, which was approved by a vote of 55% of voters in favor and 45% opposed.

What is a separate vote requirement for constitutional amendments and how many states have them?

See also: Separate-vote requirement for constitutional amendments

A separate-vote requirement is a constitutional provision requiring that proposed constitutional amendments placed on statewide ballots must be decided by voters as separate ballot questions or embrace one subject. As of 2025, 32 states had a separate-vote requirement, while North Dakota was one of 18 states that did not.

Is there another measure on the 2026 ballot concerning the state's direct democracy processes?

A constitutional amendment was referred to the November 2026 ballot by the North Dakota State Legislature that would require amendments to receive a 60% supermajority vote to be adopted. The supermajority requirement would apply to both constitutional amendments proposed by initiative petition and amendments referred to the ballot by the state legislature. As of 2025, constitutional amendments in North Dakota needed to be approved by a simple majority (50%+1) of voters.

Text of measure

Constitutional changes

See also: Article III, North Dakota Constitution and Article IV, North Dakota Constitution

The measure would amend section nine of Article III and section 16 of Article IV of the state constitution.

Note: Hover over the text and scroll to see the full text.

Section 9. A constitutional amendment may be proposed by initiative petition. The proposed amendment may not embrace or be comprised of more than one subject, as determined by the secretary of state, and the secretary of state may not approve the initiative petition for circulation if the proposed amendment comprises more than one subject. If signed by electors equal in number to four percent of the resident population of the state at the last federal decennial census, the petition may be submitted to the secretary of state. All other provisions relating to initiative measures apply hereto to initiative measures for constitutional amendments.

Section 16. Any amendment to this constitution may be proposed in either house of the legislative assembly, and if. The proposed amendment may not embrace or be comprised of more than one subject. If agreed to upon a roll call by a majority of the members elected to each house, must be submitted to the electors and if a majority of the votes cast thereon upon the question are in the affirmative, the amendment is a part of this constitution.

Support

Supporters

Officials

• Sen. Dick Dever (R)
• Sen. David Hogue (R)
• Sen. Jerry Klein (R)
• Rep. Lawrence Klemin (R)
• Rep. Mike Lefor (R)
• Rep. Steve Vetter (R)
• Rep. Robin Weisz (R)

Arguments

• State Rep. Steve Vetter (R-18): "It is important for people to know what they’re voting on. Having multiple subjects in one amendment can be misleading and confusing for voters."
• State Sen. David Hogue (R-38): "The single subject rule helps limit the content and complexity of constitutional amendments by holding the drafter and sponsors to focus on a single subject that is readily understandable by the voters. ... A second reason to limit proposed constitutional measures to a single subject relates to avoiding confusion and outright deception of voters. The single subject rule prohibits the so-called 'bait and switch' tactic. What I mean by that is some proponents of measures draft lengthy measures that have broad-based appeal in the introductory pages, e.g., a measure to help veterans, but much later on in the measure the proponents "switch" to the primary objective of the measure. Again, because the overwhelming majority of voters are not reading the measure in its entirety, I argue it's unfair to switch subjects in the same measure."

Opposition

Opponents

Organizations

• League of Women Voters of North Dakota

Arguments

• Mary Tintes, vice president of the League of Women Voters of North Dakota: "We’re just afraid that it’s going to be used as a tool against some of the initiated processes that we are using."

Campaign finance

See also: Ballot measure campaign finance, 2025

If you are aware of a committee registered to support or oppose this measure, please email editor@ballotpedia.org.

	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Support	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Oppose	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Total	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00

Background

Single-subject rule

See also: Single-subject rule

A single-subject rule is a state law that requires ballot measures to address a single subject, topic, or issue. There are 26 states that provide for at least one type of statewide citizen-initiated measure. Of those 26 states, 16 have single-subject rules.

The following map provides a visual illustration of which states have an initiative and referendum process and a single-subject rule for citizen-initiated measures.

To read more about states with single-subject requirements, click here.

Separate-vote requirement for constitutional amendments

See also: Separate-vote requirement for constitutional amendments

A separate-vote requirement is a constitutional provision featured in 32 state constitutions requiring that proposed constitutional amendments placed on statewide ballots must be decided by voters as separate ballot questions. In some states, constitutional amendments have been overturned after courts found that the amendments violated the state constitution's separate-vote requirement.

Thirty-two states have a separate-vote requirement in their state constitutions for proposed constitutional amendments. The following map shows which states have the requirement:

Constitutional Measure 2 (2024)

See also: North Dakota Constitutional Measure 2, Single-Subject Requirement for Initiatives and Require Constitutional Initiatives to be Passed Twice Amendment (2024)

Constitutional Measure 2 was on the North Dakota ballot in 2024. It was rejected with 56% of voters opposed and 44% of voters in favor. The measure, which was referred to the ballot by the state legislature, would have made the following changes:

• established a single-subject rule for initiatives (both statutory and constitutional), as determined by the secretary of state;
• increased the signature requirement for constitutional amendment initiatives from 4% of the resident population to 5% of the resident population of the state; and
• required proposed constitutional initiatives that have qualified for the ballot to be placed on the next primary election ballot, and, if approved, be placed on the next general election ballot, where it must be approved again to become effective.

Constitutional amendments in North Dakota

Referred amendments

From 1996 through 2024, the state legislature referred 40 constitutional amendments to the ballot. Voters approved 26 (65%) and rejected 14 (35%) of the referred amendments. All of the amendments were referred to the ballot during even-numbered election years. The following table contains data for referred amendments during even-numbered election years from 1996 through 2024:

Legislatively-referred constitutional amendments, 1996-2024
Total number	Approved	Percent approved	Defeated	Percent defeated	Even-year average	Even-year median	Even-year minimum	Even-year maximum
40	26	65%	14	35%	3	2	0	8

Initiated amendments

From 1996 through 2024, 19 initiated constitutional amendments appeared on the ballot. Voters approved 11 (58%) and rejected eight (42%) of the proposed amendments. All of the amendments were on the ballot during even-numbered election years. The following table contains data for initiated constitutional amendments during even-numbered election years from 1996 through 2024:

Citizen initiated constitutional amendments, 1996-2024
Total number	Approved	Percent approved	Defeated	Percent defeated	Even-year average	Even-year median	Even-year minimum	Even-year maximum
19	11	58%	8	42%	1.2	1	0	5

Path to the ballot

Amending the North Dakota Constitution

See also: Amending the North Dakota Constitution

A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for the North Dakota State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 48 votes in the North Dakota House of Representatives and 24 votes in the North Dakota State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 4007 (2025)

The following is the timeline of the constitutional amendment in the state legislature:

• January 1, 2025: The amendment was introduced and referred to the senate committee on State and Local Government.
• February 21, 2025: The State and Local Government committee voted to pass the amendment.
• February 24, 2025: The Senate passed the amendment in a vote of 46-1.
• March 18, 2025: The House amended the bill changing the election date from November to June and passed the amended bill in a vote of 68-25.
• April 11, 2025: The Senate refused to concur with the House's amendments and a conference committee was appointed.
• April 21, 2025: The Senate adopted the conference committee report including the House's amendments in a voice vote.
• April 24, 2025: The House adopted the conference committee report in a vote of 57-36.

North Dakota House of Representatives

Voted on April 24, 2025

Votes Required to Pass: 48
	Yes	No	NV
Total	57	36	1
Total %	60.6%	38.3%	1.1%
Democratic (D)	0	11	0
Republican (R)	57	25	1

See also

2026 measures

• 2026 ballot measures
• Direct democracy measures on the ballot

North Dakota

• North Dakota ballot measures
• North Dakota ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in North Dakota

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in North Dakota.

How to vote in North Dakota

Poll times

In North Dakota, voting hours at polling locations vary by county. According to statute, all polls must open between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. local time, and they must close between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. North Dakota is divided between the Central and Mountain time zones. Hours for specific polling places are available online through the state's Polling Place Search. A voter who is standing in line at the time the polls close will be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter information here.

North Dakota is the only state that does not require voter registration.

“	Although North Dakota was one of the first states to adopt voter registration prior to the turn of the century, it abolished it in 1951. It is also worth noting that North Dakota law still provides cities with the ability to register voters for city elections. North Dakota is a rural state and its communities maintain close ties and networks. North Dakota's system of voting, and lack of voter registration, is rooted in its rural character by providing small precincts. Establishing relatively small precincts is intended to ensure that election boards know the voters who come to the polls to vote on Election Day and can easily detect those who should not be voting in the precinct.	”
—North Dakota Secretary of State

Voter ID requirements

North Dakota requires voters to present identification while voting. Identification must include the voter’s name, current North Dakota residential address, and date of birth.

Acceptable forms of voter identification include:

• Driver’s license
• Nondriver’s identification card
• Tribal government-issued identification (including those issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) for a tribe located in North Dakota, any other tribal agency or entity, or any other document that sets forth the tribal member’s name, date of birth, and current North Dakota residential address)
• Long-term care identification certificate (provided by North Dakota facility)

If a voter does not have a form of identification that includes his or her current North Dakota residential address or date of birth, the voter can present the following supplemental documents:

• Current utility bill
• Current bank statement
• Check or a document issued by a federal, state, local, or tribal government (including those issued by BIA for a tribe located in North Dakota, any other tribal agency or entity, or any other document that sets forth the tribal member’s name, date of birth, and current North Dakota residential address)
• Paycheck
• Student photo ID card from a North Dakota institution containing the student's photograph and legal name. A printed document on school letterhead containing the student’s name, address, and date of birth must also be presented.
• North Dakota residents living outside of the United States can submit a U.S. Passport or Military ID if they do not have another valid form of identification.

According to the secretary of state's office, "An applicant without an acceptable form of identification may use an attester. The attester must provide his or her name, North Dakota driver’s license, nondriver’s, or tribal identification number, and sign the absentee/mail ballot application form to attest to the applicant’s North Dakota residency and voting eligibility."

Voters who cast absentee/mail-in ballot must include a valid form of identification with their ballot. A voter who has a disability that prevents them from leaving his or her home and is unable to obtain a valid form of identification "must provide his or her name, North Dakota driver’s license, nondriver’s, or tribal identification number, and sign the absentee/mail ballot application form to attest to the applicant’s North Dakota residency and voting eligibility."

External links

• Senate Concurrent Resolution 4007

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