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Tuesday is Election Day

Area voters will go to the polls Tuesday, November 6th, to mark their choices on a General Election ballot filled with candidates and measures.

10/31/12 (Wed)

By Caroline Downs

Area voters will go to the polls Tuesday, November 6th, to mark their choices on a General Election ballot filled with candidates and measures.

According to the Secretary of State’s office, in order to vote in North Dakota a voter must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, a North Dakota resident, and a resident of the voting precinct for 30 days preceding the election.

Voter registration is not required in the state of North Dakota, but voters at each precinct will be asked to verify their street address and date of birth. Acceptable forms of identification include valid driver’s licenses, state or federal ID cards, passports, tribal government-issued ID cards, U.S. military ID cards, student ID cards or utility bills dated within 30 days prior to election day with the voter’s name and residential address.

Post office boxes do not establish residency in North Dakota and cannot be accepted for residency verification purposes.

If voters are not able to verify residency and date of birth by the types of identification listed, they still have the right to vote if an election poll worker can vouch for the individual’s identity and residence or if the individual completes a Voter’s Affidavit, certifying identity and precinct residency under oath.

Citizens of Kenmare and Donnybrook can cast their ballots at the Kenmare Memorial Hall on Central Avenue between 7 am and 7 pm on November 6th.

Berthold and Carpio residents should vote at the Berthold Senior Citizens Center on Main Street between 7 am and 7 pm.

Tolley voters will complete their ballots at the Renville County Courthouse in Mohall between 8 am and 7 pm.

Candidates on the ballot
In the national races, voters will select the U.S. President and Vice-President from among five political parties, including the Democratic-NPL, Republican, Constitution and Green parties. The Libertarian Party is represented by presidential candidate Gary Johnson, the former Governor of New Mexico and the son of Kenmare High School alumnus and stand-out athlete Earl Johnson.

Voters will also elect a U.S. Senator and Congressman to represent North Dakota.

Among the statewide races, Ward County voters will choose a state senator and two state representatives for District 4, a governor, state auditor, state treasurer, insurance commissioner, public service commissioner, one justice for the ND Supreme Court, and superintendent of public instruction.

Three judgeships for the Northwest Judicial District are listed on the ballot.

Renville County voters will select one state senator and two state representatives for District 6 among the state offices, along with two judgeships to elect for the Northeast Judicial District.

In county races, one supervisor will be elected for the Ward County Soil Conservation District, with Patrick Zeltinger listed on the ballot.

Three Ward County Commissioners will also be chosen. Candidates for those positions include incumbents Bruce Christianson and Jack Nybakken and challengers Shelly Weppler, Alan Walter and Jim Lee.

The only Renville County position up for election this year is a supervisor for the Soil Conservation District, with Linda Savelkoul listed as the candidate.

Statewide measures
The outcome of five measures, each to amend the North Dakota Constitution, will be decided November 6th by voters across the state.

Measures No. 1 and No. 2 were approved by the 2011 Legislative Assembly and now come to the state’s voters for approval.

Measure No. 1 would eliminate the authority of the state legislature to levy an annual poll tax. No poll tax is currently levied in North Dakota, but the language to do so remains in Article X of the state’s constitution.

Measure No. 2 would require members of the executive branch of the state government to take the oath of office, as prescribed in Article XI of the North Dakota Constitution.

The remaining three measures were petitions initiated by citizens or groups in the state.

Measure No. 3 would protect the right of farmers and ranchers to engage in modern farming and ranching practices forever.

Measure No. 4 would prohibit smoking in public places and most places of employment in the state, including specified outdoor areas.

Measure No. 5 would make it a class C felony for an individual to maliciously and intentionally harm a living dog, cat or horse, and provide a court with certain options for sentencing.

Two Ward County measures
In Ward County, voters will approve or reject two county measures, both of which have been approved for the ballot by the Ward County Commissioners.

County Measure No. 2012-01 would implement and collect a one-half cent sales tax between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2022, for the purpose of county office building construction, courthouse renovations, jail expansion and infrastructure repairs necessary because of the 2011 flooding events.

County Measure No. 2012-02 would increase the current emergency services communication fee of $1.00 per month, per communication connection, to $1.50 per month, effective January 1, 2013, for the operation and maintenance of the 9-1-1 emergency services line.

ND voter information
available online
More information about the General Election in North Dakota, including applications for absentee ballots and details about early voting, can be found online at vip.sos.nd.gov.

The state government website at www.nd.gov has links for additional information about the 2012 election.