JAMESTOWN, ND – North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe today awarded the 2026 Election Hero Award to Linda Chadduck of Jamestown, North Dakota.
“Linda’s decades-long dedication to the voters of Stutsman County stands out and is deserving of recognition,” said Secretary Howe. “Linda’s commitment to the process, to the facts, and to educating the public about North Dakota’s process has been crucial to running safe, secure, and accessible elections. There are many election heroes across the state who assist North Dakotans in participating in democracy, and Linda’s lifetime of service to our elections is something I hope inspires others.”
Stutsman County Auditor Jessica Alonge nominated Chadduck for the award, detailing the contributions she’s made to supporting election integrity and assisting with North Dakota elections.
“Linda spent 37 years (her entire career!) in public service as an employee of Stutsman County and was the unofficial election coordinator for the county for most of her tenure. Linda has experience in every aspect of the election process and continues sharing that wealth of knowledge with others, keeping up to date with the law and setting the record straight when she is presented with false information regarding the election process. Since her retirement in 2016, Linda has served as an inspector, largely contributing to the success of our elections. She understands how important election security, laws and procedures are, handles each voter, election worker and member of the public with respect, and is a valuable member of our team.”
Linda said she was surprised and very humbled to receive the award and that she finds it rewarding to help with elections.
“I enjoy Election Day. It’s fun to see everybody and visit with people. I’m happy to do it as long as I’m able.”
Today’s North Dakota Election Hero Award presentation took place as part of National Election Hero Day (October 20, 2026), which celebrates the importance of election teams, poll workers, state leaders, and the many people who work to provide safe, secure, and accessible elections.
This is the fourth year the award has been presented in North Dakota. Past recipients include:
- 2025 - Senator Kristin Roers (Fargo, ND)
- 2024 - The North Dakota County Auditors Association
- 2023 - Kari Phillips (Langdon)
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Left to right: Jessica Alonge (Stutsman County Auditor), Linda Chadduck, Michael Howe (North Dakota Secretary of State)