A new bill in North Dakota has passed the Senate, raising the public vote threshold to 60% to approve constitutional ballot measures. The bill, House Resolution 3003, sponsored by Rep. Robin Weisz, R-Hurdsfield, aims to make it harder to amend the state’s foundational document. Proponents of the bill argue that changing the constitution should be a more difficult process and point out the high number of amendments that have been made to the North Dakota Constitution compared to the U.S. Constitution.
However, not all lawmakers are in favor of the bill. Some, like Sen. Jeff Magrum, R-Hazelton, warn that raising the threshold could make it harder to change parts of the constitution that are already in place. Others, like Sen. Sean Cleary, R-Bismarck, believe that the current ballot petition process serves as an important check on the Legislature and should not be limited.
Opponents of the bill, including the League of Women Voters of North Dakota, argue that the resolution would weaken the power of the people to amend the state constitution through direct democracy. They point to the defeat of Measure 2 last November, which contained proposed changes to the constitutional ballot measure process.
The resolution, which passed the House in January, will now be put to the voters during the 2026 general election if approved by the Secretary of State’s Office.
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