House rejects bills that aimed to change how North Dakota candidates get on the ballot
North Dakota lawmakers have rejected two bills that would have significantly changed how candidates qualify for the ballot. **House Bill 1446** sought to eliminate party endorsements as a path to candidacy, requiring all candidates to gather signatures instead. Supporters argued it would make the process more open, while opponents defended party vetting. Meanwhile, **House Bill 1424** aimed to do the opposite—making endorsements mandatory for candidates running under a party label. Both proposals failed, leaving the state’s current system intact as lawmakers continue debating how parties should shape elections.
HB 1446
A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact sections 16.1-03-14 and 16.1-03-21, subsection 1 of section 16.1-08.1-02.3, subsection 1 of section 16.1-08.1-02.4, and sections 16.1-09-02, 16.1-11-06, 16.1-11-10, 16.1-11-11, 16.1-11-12, 16.1-11-18, 16.1-11-30, and 16.1-11-39, subsection 1 of section 16.1-12-02, and sections 16.1-12-09 and 16.1-13-08.1, of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to placing the name of a candidate on the primary election ballot; and to repeal sections 16.1-11-05.1 and 16.1-11-09 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to party organization endorsements and certificates of endorsement.
House Sponsors: Nathe (R, District 30), D. Anderson (R, District 6), Berg (R, District 8), Bosch (R, District 30), Longmuir (R, District 2), Nelson (R, District 14), Porter (R, District 34), Swiontek (R, District 10),
Senate Sponsors: Bekkedahl (R, District 1), Cleary (R, District 35), Dever (R, District 32), Roers (R, District 27),
,
HB 1424
A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 16.1-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the issuance of a certificate of endorsement by a district party; and to amend and reenact sections 16.1-11-06 and 16.1-11-10 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to certificates of endorsement and the secretary of state’s duty to place a candidate’s name on a primary election ballot.
House Sponsors: Koppelman (R, District 16),
Senate Sponsors:
,
SB 2252
A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 16.1-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to a district endorsing caucus or convention; and to amend and reenact sections 16.1-03-11, 16.1-03-14, 16.1-11-01, 16.1-12-10, and 16.1-13-04 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to state party conventions and endorsing caucuses or conventions for primary and general elections.
House Sponsors: Henderson (R, District 15), Kasper (R, District 46), Koppelman (R, District 16),
Senate Sponsors: Walen (R, District 4),
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