HB 1297 North Dakota House · 69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26)

AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 16.1-01 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to prohibiting approval voting and ranked-choice voting in elections; and to amend and reenact subsection 7 of section 11-09.1-05 and subsection 9 of section 40-05.1-06 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to home rule powers in counties and cities.

Summary

Relating to prohibiting approval voting and ranked‑choice voting in elections; and to amend and reenact subsection 7 of section 11‑09.1‑05 and subsection 9 of section 40‑05.1‑06 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to home rule powers in counties and cities.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

Apr 2025

Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Signed Apr 18, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

INTRODUCED → Enrollment · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill prohibits the use of approval voting and ranked-choice voting in any elections within North Dakota for local, state, or federal offices. It also amends home rule provisions to ensure counties and cities cannot adopt ordinances that conflict with this prohibition. The changes are substantive policy updates aimed at restricting alternative voting methods in the state.

Scope change

The bill explicitly prohibits approval voting and ranked-choice voting in all elections within North Dakota, including local, state, and federal offices, and voids any conflicting ordinances adopted by counties, cities, or other political subdivisions.

REQUIREMENT

Prohibits the use of approval voting and ranked-choice voting in any election held within North Dakota to elect or nominate candidates for local, state, or federal offices.

ENFORCEMENT

Declares any ordinance enacted by a county, city, or political subdivision that conflicts with the voting method prohibition as void.

SCOPE

Amends county and city home rule provisions to explicitly exclude the new voting method prohibition from their home rule powers.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 8, 2025 · House Feb 18, 2025

How they voted

38–8

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 47

Apr 8, 2025

D Democratic5

2 Yea 3 Nay

60% Nay

R Republican42

36 Yea 5 Nay 1

85% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 21, 2025

Introduced

Filed with Secretary Of State 04/16

legislature

Apr 18, 2025

Signed into law

Signed by Governor 04/16

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Second reading, passed, yeas 38 nays 8

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Amended

Amendment failed

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Introduced

Amendment proposed on floor

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported back, do pass, place on calendar 4 2 0

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee Hearing 03:30

upper

Mar 24, 2025

Committee

Rereferred to State and Local Government

upper

Mar 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Request return from committee

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Introduced

Introduced, first reading, referred Judiciary Committee

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Second reading, passed, yeas 75 nays 16

lower

Feb 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported back, do pass, place on calendar 6 4 4

lower

Jan 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee Hearing 04:00

lower

Jan 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee Hearing 10:30

lower

Jan 13, 2025

Introduced

Introduced, first reading, referred Government and Veterans Affairs Committee

lower

1 primary · 10 co-sponsors