Burleigh County residents in North Dakota started early voting for the state’s primary at the Bismarck Event Center on June 5, 2024. However, a recent development in the state’s election system has caused some controversy. A bill was passed in the Senate to end approval voting in Fargo, effectively putting an end to both approval and ranked-choice voting in elections across the state. Fargo had adopted approval voting for city commissioners in 2018 after voters approved a ballot measure.
Supporters of the bill argued that the state’s election rules should be consistent, and that approval voting was too confusing for voters. However, local legislators from Fargo spoke out in favor of keeping approval voting, citing increased engagement in civic activities and encouraging more individuals to run for office.
Despite their efforts, the bill passed the Senate floor and will now move to Gov. Armstrong’s desk to be either signed into law or vetoed. The bill did not include an amendment to grandfather Fargo’s approval voting system, which had been proposed but failed to receive a floor vote.
The decision to end approval voting in Fargo has sparked debate among residents and politicians alike, with supporters of the system noting its effectiveness in the community. The future of approval voting in Fargo now hangs in the balance as the state awaits the governor’s decision on the bill.
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