Approval Voting

Fargo group calls on city hall for special election to approve primary voting

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — A bipartisan group of Fargo citizens wants to shake up the election process for mayor and city commission by enacting a non-partisan primary. Former KVRR news director Jim Shaw was among a group addressing the city commission along with current Cass County Commissioner Tony Grindberg and State Representatives Karla Rose Hanson and Scott Wagner. They want…

Gov. Armstrong Signs Bill Doing Away With Fargo’s Voter-Approved Voting System

North Dakota Republican Gov. Kelly Armstrong gestures during a meeting at the state Capitol in Bismarck, N.D., Jan. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dura)BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s governor signed a bill Wednesday to prohibit the unusual voting system used by his state’s largest city. The bill signed by Republican Gov. Kelly Armstrong bans ranked-choice and approval voting. Ranked-choice voting, in which voters rank their preferred candidates,…

Legislature votes to ban approval and ranked-choice voting in North Dakota

Burleigh County residents fill out ballots during the first day of early voting for the North Dakota primary at the Bismarck Event Center on June 5, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. — A bill that will end approval voting in Fargo passed the Senate floor on Tuesday. A last-minute amendment grandfathering Fargo’s approval voting system failed to get a…

Legislators hear testimony on second bill that would affect approval voting in Fargo

BISMARCK, N.D. — There are now two bills being debated in the North Dakota Legislature that would end the practice of approval voting in Fargo. KVRR News reported on HB 1297 last week. That bill would ban approval and ranked choice voting in the state. HB 1307 would make home charter rules that conflict with state laws null and void….

Bill would end approval voting in Fargo

BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota Legislature discussed a bill on Thursday that would end approval voting for Fargo city elections. The bill is similar to another bill passed last session that was vetoed by then Governor Doug Burgum. If passed, HB 1297 would ban approval voting and ranked choice voting for elected officials in the state. Currently, Fargo is…

Fargo’s Approval Voting System Lives On After State Senate Fails To Override Veto

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KFGO) — North Dakota Senate fails to override Gov. Doug Burgum’s veto of the approval voting ban. Fargo will be able to continue using the voting method in its city elections. Voters passed the voting method through a ballot measure in 2018. The House overrode the governor’s veto last week but the Senate fell four votes short of…

ND Legislature: Burgum Veto Overturned, Moves on Insulin and School Vouchers

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/AP) — The first of 4 vetoes by Gov. Doug Burgum has been overturned by the North Dakota Legislature. Burgum had vetoed a bill that would exempt the Legislature from holding recorded roll votes on nonprocedural votes for consideration of bill amendments. The Senate voted 45-1 and the House was unanimous in the veto override. The senate has…

North Dakota House overrides veto of bill to ban approval voting, now goes to Senate

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR-Prairie Public) – The North Dakota House has voted to override Governor Burgum’s veto of a bill to prevent local governments from adopting “approval voting” or “ranked choice voting” for local elections. Fargo voters adopted “approval voting” for local elections. It was done by a citizen initiative, under the city’s home rule charter. Voters are allowed to cast ballots…

Burgum vetoes bill that would have banned ranked-choice and approval voting

Fargo is the only city in North Dakota that uses approval voting.

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) – Gov. Doug Burgum has vetoed a bill that would have prohibited cities and other political subdivisions in North Dakota from using “ranked-choice” and “approval voting” to determine the outcome of elections. “House Bill 1273 undermines local control of local political subdivisions exercising their granted powers under home rule charter, specifically prohibiting using an approval voting method…

N.D. House Passes Bill to Ban Approval or Ranked Choice Voting

Fargo Is Only City In State With Approval Voting

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — A bill to ban approval or choice ranked voting in North Dakota has passed the house by a vote of 74-19. An amendment to grandfather in Fargo’s approval voting system failed. Fargo is the only city in the state with the voting method after an initiated measure gained overwhelming support. Republican State Representative Ben Koppelman, the…