HB 1424 — 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.

25.1144.0100325.1144.02000 Adopted by the Government and Title.02000 Veterans Affairs Committee February 21, 2025 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota PROPOSEDFIRST AMENDMENTSENGROSSMENT TOENGROSSED HOUSE BILL NO.

After completion of the endorsing caucus, the district chairman shall issuesignsign a certificate of endorsement to the endorsed candidate, and the candidate shall fileand forward the certificate of endorsement asto provided under section 16.1-11-06to the state committee of the party making the endorsement.

Upon receiving the certificate of endorsement, the state party chairman may not sign and forward the certificate of endorsement to the secretary of state mayfor notplacement placeon the Pageprimary No.election ballot under section 16.1-11-10 for at least seven days following the receipt of the certificate.

1 25.1144.01003 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly endorsed candidatefor placement on the primary election ballot under section 16.1-11-10 for at least seven days following the receipt of the certificate.

Any individual claiming the endorsing caucus was not conducted in the manner prescribed under subsection 1 may file a complaint with the secretaryinquiry of state withininquiry committee.

The individualPage shallNo. file the complaint within seven days of the issuance of thestate committee receiving the certificate of endorsement.

Upon1 receipt25.1144.02000 ofSixty-ninth aLegislative complaint,Assembly individual shall file the secretarycomplaint within seven days of stateinquirythe state committee shallreceiving review the complaint.certificate of endorsement.

IfUpon thereceipt secretary of stateinquirya committeecomplaint, determines the complaintinquiry is without merit, the secretary of stateinquiry committee shall dismissreview the complaintcomplaint. and the state party chairman shall sign the certificate of endorsement.

UponIf signing the certificateinquiry ofcommittee endorsement,determines the statecomplaint partyis chairmanwithout shallmerit, forward the certificateinquiry ofcommittee endorsementshall todismiss the secretarycomplaint ofand state to place the endorsedstate candidate'sparty namechairman inonshall sign the primarycertificate electionof ballot.endorsement.

Upon signing the certificate of endorsement, the state party chairman shall forward the certificate of endorsement to the secretary of state to place the endorsed candidate's name on the primary election ballot.

If the secretaryinquiry of stateinquiry committee reasonably believes the endorsing caucus violated the applicable district organization's internal rules, bylaws, or any provision of law, the secretaryinquiry of stateinquiry committee shall forward the complaint to the attorney general to investigate the complaint and notify the secretary of state of the investigation.

If the secretaryinquiry of state forwardsinquiry committee investigates the complaintcomplaint, to the attorney general, the secretary of state may not place the candidate's name on the ballot until the investigation is complete.

The attorneyinquiry generalinquiry committee shall complete the investigation within seven days of receiving a complaintcomplaint. from the secretary of state.

5.6.6.

Upon completing the investigation under subsection 45,5, the attorneyinquiry generalinquiry committee shall issue a written determination outlining the attorney general's findings of the investigation.

IfFollowingFollowing the investigation, if the attorneyinquiry generalinquiry committee determines the district organization complied with the internal rules, bylaws, or applicable state law relating to the endorsing caucus, the attorneystate generalstate party chairman shall notifysignsign the certificate of endorsement and forward the signed certificate to the the secretary of state thatfor the certificate of endorsement is validfor placement on the primary election ballot.

If the attorneyinquiry generalinquiry committee determines the district organization failed to comply with the internal rules, bylaws, or Pageapplicable No.state law relating to the endorsing caucus, the inquiry committee shall notify the district organization and the secretary of state the certificate of endorsement is void and the district organization shall hold the district caucus at a later date.

2 25.1144.01003 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly applicable state law relating to the endorsing caucus, the attorney generalinquiry committee shall notify the district organization and the secretary of state the certificate of endorsement is void and the district organization shall hold the district caucus must be held at a later date.

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(1) The candidate's name, post-office address, nongovernment issued electronic mail address, and telephone number, and the title of the office to which the candidate aspires, the appropriate district judgeship number if Pageapplicable, No.and whether the petition is intended for nomination for an unexpired term of office if applicable.

3 25.1144.01003 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly applicable, and whether the petition is intended for nomination for an unexpired term of office if applicable.

(b)Page IfNo. there was no candidate of a party for a position at the preceding general election, at least three hundred signatures.

3 25.1144.02000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly (b) If there was no candidate of a party for a position at the preceding general election, at least three hundred signatures.

If a candidate submits a nominating petition under a party affiliation and that party has issued a certificate of endorsement for the same office the Pagesecretary No.of state shall notify the petitioning candidate of the candidate's ineligibility to appear on the primary election ballot under the desired party affiliation.

4 25.1144.01003 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly secretary of state shall notify the petitioning candidate of the candidate's ineligibility to appear on the primary election ballot under the desired party affiliation.

SECTIONPage 3.No.

4 25.1144.02000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly SECTION 3.

and zip code of Page________________; No.

5 25.1144.01003 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly ________________;

_______________________________________ Ballot name requested _______________________________________ Candidate'sPage signatureNo. Subscribed and sworn to before me on ______________, _____.

5 25.1144.02000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly Candidate's signature Subscribed and sworn to before me on ______________, _____.

6 25.1144.0100325.1144.02000