Thomas Jefferson said “We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” On June 9th North Dakota will conduct its statewide Primary election. If the past is any indication, “the majority who participate” as Jefferson mentions, may only be 11% of eligible North Dakota voters.
Since 2000 North Dakota has averaged a disappointingly sparse 22% turnout for the June Primary Election. Said a different way, nearly 80% of eligible North Dakotans have stayed home and remained silent when it comes to electing their mayors, their city councils or commissions, and deciding who shall serve on their park board. Not all school board elections are on the Primary ballot, but many are. An overwhelming majority are yielding their vote for local representation in their school districts to a fraction of the population.
Yes, there are partisan races on the June Primary ballot. Nominations for statewide and legislative candidates will make up the front page of your ballot. But on the other side of your ballot, you will find races that determine key local leaders; 728 city council and commission seats are up for grabs; 502 spots on park boards across North Dakota are up for a vote; city mayors and commission presidents, the leading voices of our cities, 205 of them to be exact, will be decided on June 9th. In all, 1,500 races and measures will be on Primary ballots in our state.
North Dakota offers several options to make participating in our elections convenient for the voter. Eligible North Dakotans can choose to utilize absentee, early voting, or Election Day to cast their ballot. Early voting begins June 1st in Sioux, Stutsman, and Ward Counties. Cass and Grand Forks Counties will offer early voting beginning June 2nd. Burleigh County starts early voting on June 3rd. Morton and Stark Counties will launch early voting on June 4th.
If you are voting absentee be sure to get your ballot in the mail as soon as possible or drop it off at your county office before the polls close on June 9th. Ballots will not be accepted if they arrive after Election Day.
The June Primary isn’t a warmup for November. The election results in June will have an impact on your everyday activities and quality of life.
The next election is always the most important election. Don’t sit this one out.
To find a sample ballot, polling locations, early voting locations and hours go to vote.nd.gov.
Michael Howe
North Dakota Secretary of State