Election administration in North Dakota

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Election Information
Voter registration
Early voting
Absentee/mail-in voting
All-mail voting
Voter ID laws
State poll opening and closing times
Time off work for voting
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Election administration encompasses a state's voting policies, procedures, and enforcement. These include voter identification requirements, early and absentee/mail-in voting provisions, voter list maintenance methods, and more. Each state's voting policies dictate who can vote and under what conditions.

THE BASICS

North Dakota is the only state without a system of voter registration.

North Dakota permits early voting and no-excuse absentee/mail-in voting.

In North Dakota, polls must open between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. and close between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

North Dakota requires identification to vote.

North Dakota holds open primary elections.

North Dakota has an online tool for checking the status of absentee/mail-in ballots.

Below, you will find details on the following election administration topics in North Dakota:

• Poll times
• Voter registration
• Early and absentee/mail-in voting policy
• Voter identification requirements
• Provisional ballot rules
• Primary election type
• Time off work for voting
• Electioneering
• Voting rules for people convicted of a felony

• Post-election auditing
• Election administration authorities
• Noteworthy events
• Election policy ballot measures
• Election policy legislation
• Ballot access
• Redistricting
• Contact information

Poll times

See also: State poll opening and closing 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. Anyone in line when the polls close must be allowed to vote.

Voter 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

Early and absentee/mail-in voting policy

Early voting

See also: Early voting

North Dakota law permits counties to establish early voting. As of November 2025, six of North Dakota's 53 counties offered early voting. Together, these counties contained 63 of the state's 157 Election Day polling places. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.

Absentee/mail-in voting

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

All voters are eligible to vote absentee in North Dakota. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee.

There is no specific deadline for applying for an absentee ballot. The completed ballot must be received by the appropriate election official by the close of polls on Election Day.

Returning absentee/mail-in ballots

See also: Mail ballot collection and return laws by state

Voters in North Dakota can return an absentee/mail-in ballot in person or by mail. The deadline to return a ballot is the close of polls on Election Day.

In North Dakota, an absentee voter can name an agent in a written authorization. The agent cannot be a candidate for office, cannot accept compensation for acting as agent, and can serve as agent for no more than four voters.

Twenty states allow anyone chosen by the voter to return a ballot on the voter's behalf, with certain exceptions, while 16 states allow anyone with certain relationships to the voter to return the voter's ballot. Four states allow only the voter to return the voter's ballot, with certain exceptions, and two states required voters to return their ballots by mail. Eight states and D.C. do not specify who may return ballots.

Drop box availability

North Dakota does not have a law related to drop boxes, though they are in use in some counties. As of November 2025, 48 of North Dakota's 53 counties used drop boxes, according to information provided by the North Dakota Secretary of State. For more information on drop box locations in North Dakota click here.

Signature requirements and cure provisions

In North Dakota, voters must sign an affidavit printed on their ballot’s return envelope. Election clerks and board members of the polling place compare the signature on the affidavit to the signature on the absentee/mail-in ballot application for the purpose of verification. If they do not correspond or the affidavit is found to be inadequate, the ballot is rejected. North Dakota law does include a cure provision, or a law allowing voters to correct an issue with the signature on their absentee/mail-in ballot.

North Dakota law says, "the election official shall notify the absent voter the signatures do not appear to match," and that a verification curing the mismatched signature "must be completed by the absent voter before close of the meeting of the canvassing board occurring thirteen days after the election."

Thirty-three states have laws that include cure provisions, while 17 states do not. One state, Pennsylvania, allows counties to establish a cure process.

Was your absentee/mail-in ballot counted?

Use the Absentee Ballot Search tool provided by the North Dakota Secretary of State to check the status of your absentee/mail-in ballot.

Voter identification requirements

See also: Voter ID in North Dakota

See also: Voter identification laws by state

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.

The following are acceptable forms of voter identification as of November 2025. Click here for the North Dakota Secretary of State page on accepted ID for the most current information.

“

North Dakota Driver’s license North Dakota Nondriver’s identification card Tribal government issued identification (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) Long term care identification certificate (provided by North Dakota facility) If an individual’s acceptable form of identification (see list above) does not include the North Dakota residential address or date of birth, or the North Dakota residential address is not current, the individual may supplement the identification with a current utility bill; a current bank statement; a 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); or a paycheck. Students enrolled at an institution of higher education, and who have a valid form of North Dakota identification with a different North Dakota address than where they currently reside, may provide, as supplemental documentation, a printed document containing the student’s name, address, and date of birth issued by the institution of higher education. This document must contain the institution's letterhead or seal, along with a student photo identification card issued by the institution and containing the student's photograph and legal name. Military ID or Passport – Only for North Dakota residents living outside the United States who do not possess one of the other forms of identification.

”

To view North Dakota state law pertaining to voter identification, click here.

According to the secretary of state's office, an absentee ballot applicant "without an acceptable form of ID may use an attester." The attester "must provide name, valid ID number and sign the absentee or mail ballot application attesting the applicant's ND residency or voting eligibility."

Click here to learn more about the background of North Dakota's law.

Thirty-six states require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day. Of these states, 24 require voters to present identification containing a photograph, and 12 accept other forms of identification. The remaining 14 states do not require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day.

Valid forms of identification differ by state. In certain states that require voters to provide identification, there may be exceptions that allow some voters to cast a ballot without providing an ID. To see more about these exceptions, see details by state. Commonly accepted forms of ID include driver's licenses, state-issued identification cards, and military identification cards.

Provisional balloting for voters without ID

Voters who do not show proper identification can cast a provisional ballot, called a "set-aside ballot." See below for provisional ballot rules.

Provisional ballot rules

Voters in North Dakota are given provisional ballots, or ballots requiring additional steps or information before they can be counted, if a court order is issued to extend polling hours or if they are unable to provide proper identification. North Dakota refers to provisional ballots as set-aside ballots.

The voter must present a driver’s license, non-driver ID, tribal ID or documentation, or long-term care certificate within 13 days of the election for their set-aside ballot to be counted. A voter can present their updated ID in person or electronically.

Primary election type

See also: Primary elections in North Dakota

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. A primary election is also sometimes used to choose convention delegates and party leaders; however, these selection processes can vary from state to state and party to party within a state. In North Dakota, precinct, district, and state party officials are selected at party caucuses and conventions, not at the state-administered primary election. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. North Dakota utilizes an open primary system, in which voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Time off work for voting

In North Dakota, employers are encouraged, but not required, to grant time off for eligible employees to vote:

“

It is the policy of this state to encourage voting by all eligible voters at all statewide special, primary, or general elections. To this end, employers are encouraged to establish a program to grant an employee who is a qualified voter to be absent from the employee's employment for the purpose of voting when an employee's regular work schedule conflicts with voting during time when polls are open.

”

Twenty-eight states require employers to grant employees time off to vote. Within these 28 states, policies vary as to whether that time off must be paid and how much notice must be given.

Electioneering

North Dakota law restricts certain activities inside polling places or within 100 feet of the entrance to the room containing a polling place while it is open.

State law says:

“

An individual may not ask, solicit, or in any manner try to induce or persuade, any voter within a polling place or within one hundred feet [30.48 meters] from the entrance to the room containing a polling place while it is open for voting to vote or refrain from voting for any candidate or the candidates or ticket of any political party or organization, or any measure submitted to the people.

”

The law does not ban adhesive signs on motor vehicles that are not readily removable, as well as fixed permanent billboards with political advertisements.

Voting rules for people convicted of a felony

See also: Voting rights for people convicted of a felony

In North Dakota, individuals serving time in prison because of a felony conviction do not have a right to vote. Voting rights are automatically regained upon release from prison. Click here for more information regarding an incarcerated individual's rights in North Dakota.

Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.

Post-election auditing

North Dakota state law requires post-election audits. After a statewide primary, general, and special election, the secretary of state orders an audit of one polling location in each county chosen at random. The audit begins on the sixth day after the election and must conclude by the eighth day after the election. The county auditor must appoint an election board that is responsible for the audit. The audit must include one federal contest, one statewide contest, one legislative contest, and one county contest. If the board discovers a discrepancy between results from automated tabulating equipment and results of the post-election audit, then the secretary of state may order additional audits within the county, which would serve as the official record used during canvassing

Post-election audits check that election results tallied by a state's voting system match results from paper records, such as paper ballots filled out by voters or the paper records produced by electronic voting machines. Post-election audits are classified into two categories: audits of election results—which include traditional post-election audits as well as risk-limiting audits—and procedural audits.

Typically, traditional post-election audits are done by recounting a portion of ballots, either electronically or by hand, and comparing the results to those produced by the state's voting system. In contrast, risk-limiting audits use statistical methods to compare a random sample of votes cast to election results instead of reviewing every ballot. The scope of procedural audits varies by state, but they typically include a systematic review of voting equipment, performance of the voting system, vote totals, duties of election officials and workers, ballot chain of custody, and more.

Forty-six states and the District of Columbia require some form of post-election audit by law, excluding states with pilot programs. Of these, 39 states and the District of Columbia require traditional post-election audits, while three states require risk-limiting post-election audits, and three states require some other form of post-election audit, including procedural post-election audits.

Election administration authorities

State election officials

In North Dakota, the secretary of state is the state's chief election official. There is no state board of elections or equivalent authority. The secretary of state is elected by popular vote every four years.

Local election officials

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Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool.

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Noteworthy events

New law requires voters to return absentee/mail-in ballots by the close of polls on Election Day (2025)

On April 28, 2025, Gov. Kelly Armstrong (R) signed HB 1165, creating a receipt deadline for voters to return absentee/mail-in ballots by the close of polls on Election Day. Previously, state law permitted election officials to count ballots postmarked by the day before Election Day and received after that were otherwise valid. The Republican-sponsored bill passed the North Dakota State Senate and North Dakota House of Representatives largely along party lines.

The new law took effect on August 1, 2025.

Election policy ballot measures

See also: Elections and campaigns on the ballot and List of North Dakota ballot measures

Ballotpedia has tracked the following ballot measures relating to election and campaign policy in North Dakota.

1. North Dakota Partisan Elections Initiative (1921)
2. North Dakota Non-partisan Election Initiative (1921)
3. North Dakota Tax Commissioner Election Initiative (1938)
4. North Dakota Secret Primary Ballot, Initiative 3 (1962)
5. North Dakota Election of County Officers, Constitutional Measure 1 (2002)
6. North Dakota Election of County Officials, Measure 2 (1998)
7. North Dakota Legislative Assembly Vacancy Filling, Measure 4 (2000)
8. North Dakota Filling of Judicial Vacancies, Measure 1 (1998)
9. North Dakota Rules for Appointing Supreme Court Justices, Measure 2 (1990)
10. North Dakota Federal Funds for Political Purposes Initiative (1936)
11. North Dakota State and County Official Term Lengths, Initiative 5 (1964)
12. North Dakota Residence Requirements of Electors Referendum (1920)
13. North Dakota Electors Residence Requirements Referendum (1922)
14. North Dakota Nonpartisan Elections Referendum (1924)
15. North Dakota Date of Presidential Primary Election Referendum (1924)
16. North Dakota Party Central Committees Referendum (1924)
17. North Dakota County Officers to be Elected Referendum, Amendment 1 (1952)
18. North Dakota County Official Term Lengths, Initiative 2 (1962)
19. North Dakota Repeal Limits on Legislator Elections and Appointments, Referendum 3 (1962)
20. North Dakota Repeal Limits on Legislator Elections and Appointments, Referendum 2 (1964)
21. North Dakota Voter Pamphlet, Referendum 1 (1964)
22. North Dakota New Residents Presidential Voting Referendum, Number 2 (1966)
23. North Dakota Judicial Reform Referendum, Number 5 (1968)
24. North Dakota Joint Governor and Lieutenant Ballot Referendum, Amendment 1 (1974)
25. North Dakota Legislator Qualifications Referendum, Amendment 1 (1976)
26. North Dakota Elective Franchise Referendum, Amendment 2 (1978)
27. North Dakota Judicial Officers Referendum, Amendment 5 (1980)
28. North Dakota Presidential Preference and June Primary Referendum, Measure 7 (1980)
29. North Dakota Election Law Revision Referendum, Measure 8 (1980)
30. North Dakota Future Governor and Lieutenant Governor Elections Referendum, Measure 4 (1982)
31. North Dakota Tax Commissioner on Party Ballot Referendum, Measure 2 (1986)
32. North Dakota State Legislative Term Limits and Ballot Instruction Measure, Measure 5 (1996)
33. North Dakota Executive Branch Officer Election, Measure 2 (2000)
34. North Dakota State Treasurer Not Elected, Measure 3 (2000)
35. North Dakota Measure 1, Ethics Commission, Foreign Political Contribution Ban, and Conflicts of Interest Initiative (2018)
36. North Dakota Initiated Measure 1, Congressional Age Limits Initiative (June 2024)

Recent legislation related to election administration in North Dakota

The table below lists bills related to election administration that have been introduced during (or carried over to) the current legislative session in North Dakota. The following information is included for each bill:

• State
• Bill number
• Official bill name or caption
• Most recent action date
• Legislative status
• Sponsor party
• Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

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Ballot access

See also: Ballot access requirements for political candidates in North Dakota

In order to get on the ballot in North Dakota, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in North Dakota. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, click here. Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

Redistricting

See also: Redistricting in North Dakota

Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. North Dakota's one United States Representative and 141 state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts. United States Senators are not elected by districts, but by the states at large. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.

North Dakota was apportioned 1 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, the same number it received after the 2010 census.

HIGHLIGHTS

Following the 2020 United States Census, North Dakota was apportioned one congressional seat, which was unchanged from the number it had after the 2010 census.

North Dakota comprises 47 legislative districts. Each district elects one senator and two representatives.

Because North Dakota is home to only one U.S. House district, congressional redistricting is not necessary. The state legislature is responsible for drawing state legislative district lines.

State process

See also: State-by-state redistricting procedures

Because North Dakota has only one congressional district, congressional redistricting is not necessary. The state legislature draws state legislative district boundaries. State legislative district lines are subject to veto by the governor.

The North Dakota Constitution requires that state legislative districts be "compact and contiguous."

Contact information

Election agencies

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in North Dakota can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

North Dakota County Election Officials

Click here for a list

North Dakota Secretary of State, Elections Division

600 E. Boulevard Ave., Dept. 108

Bismarck, North Dakota 58505-0500

Phone: 701-328-2900

Toll free: 800-352-0867

Fax: 701-328-2992

Email: soselect@nd.gov

Website: https://www.sos.nd.gov

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200

Washington, DC 20001

Phone: 301-563-3919

Toll free: 1-866-747-1471

Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov

Website: https://www.eac.gov

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Recall

Democratic primaries 2026

• United States Senate Democratic Party primaries, 2026
• United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2026
• Democratic Party gubernatorial primaries, 2026
• Democratic Party Secretary of State primaries, 2026
• Democratic Party Attorney General primaries, 2026
• State legislative Democratic primaries, 2026

Republican primaries 2026

• United States Senate Republican Party primaries, 2026
• United States House Republican Party primaries, 2026
• Republican Party gubernatorial primaries, 2026
• Republican Party Secretary of State primaries, 2026
• Republican Party Attorney General primaries, 2026
• State legislative Republican primaries, 2026

See also

• Election laws and legislation in North Dakota
• State of Election Administration Legislation Reports
• Factors affecting the speed of ballot counting and delivery of unofficial election results
• Voting in North Dakota
• Ballot access requirements for political candidates in North Dakota
• Redistricting in North Dakota

Elections in North Dakota

• North Dakota elections, 2025
• North Dakota elections, 2024
• North Dakota elections, 2023
• North Dakota elections, 2022
• North Dakota elections, 2021
• North Dakota elections, 2020
• North Dakota elections, 2019
• North Dakota elections, 2018
• North Dakota elections, 2017
• North Dakota elections, 2016
• North Dakota elections, 2015
• North Dakota elections, 2014

External links

• North Dakota Secretary of State - Elections