Long lines for first day of early in-person voting in Bismarck

BISMARCK, N.D. (Michael Achterling – North Dakota Monitor) Burleigh County kicked off early in-person voting Thursday with a line of voters snaking out of the Bismarck Event Center.

Auditor-Treasurer Mark Splonskowski said he had never seen a line of voters that long in his 10 years of being involved with elections.

“What I want to see as an elected official is I want to see big turnout,” Splonskowski said. “I would love to see long lines the entire time and on Election Day. What I’d like to see is 70%, 80%, 90% voter turnout.”

Voters line up in front of check-in tables at the Bismarck Event Center during the first day of early voting for the 2024 election on Oct. 24, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

More than 54,000 North Dakotans had voted as of Thursday afternoon, with the bulk of those being mail-in ballots. More than 2,000 had participated in early in-person voting so far, according to the Secretary of State’s website.

One Burleigh County early voter, Esther Umutoni, said she’s 31 and never voted in an election before, but she felt this one was too important to pass up.

“I wanted to feel like I played a part in making the country better,” Umutoni said.

She said she supported the Republican party on her ballot. Umutoni said the Trump administration provided four good years for her and she gave former President Donald Trump credit for leading the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Splonskowski said the last couple of weeks have been “interesting” with the recent resignation of the county’s election director, but after holding conversations with Burleigh County staff and leadership, he’s confident in their game plan.

Burleigh County’s election director resigned Oct. 15, citing health issues and the stress of the job, reported The Bismarck Tribune. Burleigh County is conducting an internal investigation, the Tribune reported.

In Morton County, early voting began Wednesday at the Morton Mandan Public Library.

Marlys Balkowitsch, election inspector for the Morton County early voting location, said the stream of voters has been “steady and constant.”

Angel Caro, of Bismarck, said he voted early because it was easier for his schedule.

“I think everybody feels that this is a contentious time and I think the earlier you can get out, why not?” Caro said. He added he supported Trump in the presidential election.

“The current administration is definitely showing what they are going to do for the next four years and I definitely don’t like that continuation,” he said.

Deb Pfau, a Morton County resident, said she votes in every election and she voted early because she was out running errands and realized she could stop into the library to cast a ballot quickly.

She said the ballot measures didn’t motivate her as much as the presidential election did during this election cycle. She added she supported Republican candidates.

“I always figure that I’m not allowed to argue or complain about anything if I haven’t put my vote out,” Pfau said. “My vote might not turn out the way I want it to, but at least I participated and I put out what I wanted and what I thought was right.”

Early in-person voting will expand to Stutsman, Ward, Cass, Grand Forks and Stark counties next week. North Dakotans can also vote early via absentee ballot. Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 4 or placed in a county dropbox by 5 p.m. local time on Nov. 4. For more information, visit the Secretary of State’s website.