Laws governing local ballot measures in North Dakota
From Ballotpedia - Reading time: 12 min
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| North Dakota Constitution |
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Some North Dakota cities and all counties have an initiative and referendum process for local ballot measures.
This article sets out the laws governing local ballot measures in North Dakota. It explains:
- Which local units of government make the initiative process available to residents.
- How and whether local units of government, including school districts, can refer local ballot measures (such as school bond propositions) to the ballot.
- An overview of laws governing local recall elections.
Types of local government[edit]
According to a 2022 study from the U.S. Census Bureau, this state's local governments consist of 53 counties, 1,661 cities, towns, and villages, and 683 special districts.[1]
| Ballot Law Portal |
| Laws Governing Ballot Measures |
School districts[edit]
In North Dakota, voting can occur on three different kinds of school tax levy ballot measures:
- General fund levy-This is for basic funding of the school districts operations such as maintenance costs, teacher salaries and basic operating costs.
- Capital Improvement levy-This is to fund new construction and capital improvements for school districts as this is a separate levy.
- Distance Learning fund levy-This levy is designed for school districts to create a levy only for distance learning programs.
North Dakota has tough super majority requirements for voter approval. Any levy for capital improvements must have a three-fifths (60%) super-majority vote while any general fund levy election question must have a fifty-five percent super majority. A distance learning levy only requires a simple majority.
Local recall rules[edit]
The citizens of North Dakota may initiate a recall election against any elected official, at any level of government. The North Dakota Constitution, Article III, Sections 1 and 10 authorizes recall against statewide, legislative, and county officials. The North Dakota Century Code, Section 44-08-21 authorizes recall against all elected officials in the remaining political subdivisions of the state.[2]
- For additional detail, see: Laws governing recall in North Dakota
Initiative process availability[edit]
The local units of government in North Dakota that make the initiative process available are:
- All 35 general law cities with a commission or modern council form of government have a mandated initiative process for ordinances.
- All 130 charter cities have a mandated initiative process for charter amendment. Charters may also contain provisions for ordinance initiative.
- All 45 general law counties have a mandated initiative process for ordinances.
- All eight charter counties have a mandated initiative process for charter amendment.[3]
Authority[edit]
| A guide to local ballot initiatives | |
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Constitution[edit]
There is no mention of local initiative and referendum in the North Dakota Constitution.
Statutes[edit]
Initiative and referendum in commission and modern council cities is mandated in the North Dakota Century Code 40-12. 
See law: North Dakota Century Code 40-12
Initiative for amendments to city charters is mandated in North Dakota Century Code 40-05.1-02. See law: North Dakota Century Code 40-05.1-02
Initiative for amendments to county charters is mandated in North Dakota Century Code 11-09.1-06. See law: North Dakota Century Code 11-09.1-06
In March 2013 the North Dakota legislature passed a bill that would have permitted counties to schedule special elections for proposed charter amendments, as cities are allowed to do as detailed below. Previously under state law amendments to county charters could only be submitted to a vote during primary and general elections. Gov. Jack Dalrymple vetoed the bill on the rationale that such important matters should not be submitted to an election which typically has low turnout.[4][5]
Initiative process features in general law cities[edit]
The initiative process for commission and modern council forms of government is detailed in the North Dakota Century Code 40-12.[6]
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Initiative process features in charter cities[edit]
The initiative process for amendments to city charters is detailed in the North Dakota Century Code 40-05.1.[7]
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Initiative process in the top 10 most populated cities[edit]
| Local I&R Laws in the 50 States |
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| Source: Local Ballot Initiatives: How citizens change laws with clipboards, conversations, and campaigns |
The top 10 most populated cities are all governed under a home rule charter. Charters may be amended by initiative, with some charters containing additional details such as petition form requirements. All charters below also authorize initiative for ordinances, as provided.
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See also[edit]
- Laws governing ballot measures
- Laws governing local ballot measures
- Local ballot measures, North Dakota
- Counties in North Dakota
External links[edit]
Footnotes[edit]
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "2022 Census of Governments – Organization," accessed October 16, 2023
- ↑ North Dakota Secretary of State, "Recalling an Elected Official of the State or a Political Subdivision," August 2011 (updated)
- ↑ Ballotpedia, "Types & #s of local government by state," September 2012
- ↑ Bismarck Tribune, Senate OKs home rule charter measure, accessed March 20, 2013
- ↑ San Francisco Chronicle, Gov vetoes bill on special home rule elections," accessed April 5, 2013
- ↑ North Dakota Century Code 40-12
- ↑ North Dakota Century Code 40-05.1
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 8.9 US Census, Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in North Dakota: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2011
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