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The State Canvassing Board certified the 2024 General Election results today, making them official for state, judicial, and legislative contests. Election results reviewed during the State Canvassing Board meeting were submitted by the 53 county canvassing boards, which are responsible for reviewing results for all contests on the ballot from each precinct within their county. 

Secretary of State Michael Howe today announced that unofficial election results from the 2024 General Election have been updated to reflect the removal of 311 public test ballots that were inadvertently uploaded with Cass County’s unofficial election night results. 

Secretary of State Michael Howe today announced that results from the 2024 General Election have been updated to reflect the removal of 196 logic and accuracy test ballots that were inadvertently uploaded with Mercer County’s unofficial election night results.

62.5 percent of eligible North Dakotans cast 371,510 ballots during the 2024 General Election as reported on election night. Election results will not be official until the state canvassing board meets later this month. 

North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe has named the North Dakota County Auditors Association as the recipient of the 2024 North Dakota Election Hero Award. The honor was presented October 21 during the opening session of the North Dakota Association of Counties (NDACo) Annual Conference. 

Elections and the right to vote are a critical part of our nation’s democracy and our Office of the Secretary of State wants to help citizens understand our election processes and establish trust in the North Dakotans who run North Dakota elections. As part of this effort, Secretary of State Michael Howe has written the attached editorial regarding election processes, how to sign up as a poll worker, and important information for citizens to remember when creating a plan to vote. 

North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe is seeking nominations for the 2024 North Dakota Election Hero Award, which celebrates the importance of election teams, poll workers, and policymakers who support the administration of North Dakota’s elections.

On September 5, 2024, North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe certified candidates for the office of president and vice president to be placed on the November 5, 2024 General Election ballot. 

North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe has reviewed petitions submitted to his office on July 8, 2024, by proponents to initiate a statutory measure on the ballot related to the legalization of cannabis and related regulation. 

North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe has reviewed petitions submitted to his office on June 28, 2024, by proponents to initiate a constitutional measure on the ballot related to prohibiting all political subdivisions from levying any tax on real or personal property except for bonded indebtedness until paid.

North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe has been selected by his peers to serve as the Midwestern Region Vice-President on the Executive Board of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS).

Secretary of State Michael Howe announced today that the sponsoring committee proposing the statutory initiative related to legalization of cannabis and related regulation submitted petitions to the Office of the Secretary of State for review and approval for the ballot.

Secretary of State Michael Howe announced today that the sponsoring committee proposing the constitutional initiative related to prohibiting all political subdivisions from levying any tax on real or personal property except for bonded indebtedness until paid, along with certain debt limitations on other indebtedness was submitted to the Office of the Secretary of State for review and approval for the ballot.

The State Canvassing Board certified the 2024 Primary Election results today, making them official for state, judicial, and legislative contests. Election results were submitted by the 53 county canvassing boards, which are responsible for reviewing the election results from each precinct within their county.

The Office of the Secretary of State is the source for trusted information about North Dakota elections and we see our media contacts as partners in this effort. With the Primary Election taking place tomorrow, we wanted to provide information that may be helpful media outlets as they report on the election. 

North Dakota’s Primary Election on Tuesday, June 11, gives people the opportunity to have a voice in who leads their cities, schools, counties, and state. Additionally, there is a statewide ballot measure and other city or county measures that voters will decide. Primary elections determine which partisan, judicial, and county candidates move forward to the general election in November. City and school contests are final in the primary which means this election determines who will lead and serve at the local level. Every vote counts in the outcomes of these contests.

The North Dakota Office of the Secretary of State wants to remind people that the June 11 Primary Election is only three weeks away. As election day gets closer, voters are encouraged to make a plan to cast their ballot. 

North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe has approved the format of a petition to initiate a statutory measure on the ballot related to legalization of cannabis and related regulation. Proponents now have until April 25, 2025, one year after notice of approval, to collect signatures and submit them to the Office of the Secretary of State for review.

Secretary of State Michael Howe announced today that a proposed petition to initiate a statutory measure was submitted to the Office of the Secretary of State for review and approval to circulate. The proposed statutory initiative relates to Legalization of Cannabis and Related Regulations.

The No Labels Party is the fourth political party to attain ballot access for the 2024 statewide elections, joining the North Dakota Republican Party (NDGOP), the North Dakota Democratic-NPL (ND DEM-NPL), and the Libertarian Party of North Dakota. Neither the No Labels Party or Libertarian Party had any candidate filings prior to the candidate filing deadline – 4 p.m., April 8, 2024. Due to this, neither party will have a column included on the June 11, 2024 Primary Election ballot.

Starting on January 1, 2024, some businesses are required to report ownership information to the U.S. Department of Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Entities include (but are not limited to) many types of corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, and trade names.

North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe has reviewed and approved petitions submitted by the Libertarian Party of North Dakota to attain ballot access. The Libertarian Party of North Dakota is the third political party to attain ballot access for the 2024 statewide elections joining the North Dakota Republican Party (NDGOP) and the North Dakota Democratic-NPL (ND DEM-NPL). The Libertarian Party will have a separate column for candidates on the primary election ballot for the statewide election on June 11, 2024. In addition, they will be allowed to place the names of presidential electors on the ballot for the general election on November 5, 2024.

North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe has reviewed petitions submitted to his office on February 9, 2024, by proponents to initiate a constitutional measure on the ballot related to congressional candidate age limits. A total of 32,370 signatures were accepted, 1,206 signatures over the required threshold of 31,164 signatures, which qualifies the initiated measure for inclusion on the June 11, 2024 Primary Election ballot.

Secretary of State Michael Howe reminds everyone that the NDGOP and ND DEM-NPL Presidential Caucuses/Primary are not elections overseen by statewide election officials and no state election equipment will be used in that effort. The political party caucus/primary are being conducted by party officials and volunteers, and may also be using a third-party retained by the individual political organization.

Secretary of State Michael Howe announced today that petitions with signatures for the constitutional initiative related to congressional age limits was submitted by the sponsoring committee to the Office of the Secretary of State for review and approval for placement on the June 11, 2024, Primary election ballot. 

The North Dakota Office of the Secretary of State is recognizing Help America Vote Day on January 30, 2024, by encouraging people to volunteer as election poll workers. First recognized by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission in 2022, Help America Vote Day aims to raise awareness about the importance of poll workers and inspire more Americans to play a role in the electoral process.

For the second year in a row North Dakota was named the best state to start a business by Forbes Advisor. Forbes noted North Dakota's welcoming business environment, low formation fees, business survival rate, and low cost of living as reasons why North Dakota was selected.

North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe today presented the 2023-2025 North Dakota Blue Book at the official Launch Party at the State Capitol’s Memorial Hall.  

North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe today awarded Kari Phillips of Langdon, North Dakota, the 2023 North Dakota Election Hero Award. This inaugural award recognizes Phillips tireless commitment and dedication as a poll worker in Cavalier County, and celebrates the effort and volunteers needed to conduct elections.