North Dakota 69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26) Status: Enacted 11 R cosponsors

HB 1297 — AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 16.1-01 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to prohibiting approval voting and ranked-choice voting in elections; and to amend and reenact subsection 7 of section 11-09.1-05 and subsection 9 of section 40-05.1-06 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to home rule powers in counties and cities.

Last action — Filed with Secretary Of State 04/16

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 13, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Kelly Armstrong (Republican) on April 18, 2025.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 82% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 11 sponsors

    1 primary, 10 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (11 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Relating to prohibiting approval voting and ranked‑choice voting in elections; and to amend and reenact subsection 7 of section 11‑09.1‑05 and subsection 9 of section 40‑05.1‑06 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to home rule powers in counties and cities.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

53 added · 42 removed

Plain-language change summary

The revised HB 1297 includes a new provision that specifically prohibits both approval voting and ranked-choice voting in North Dakota elections. This change is significant because it aims to standardize the voting process and prevent local jurisdictions from using alternative voting methods that diverge from traditional practices. The amendment clarifies how county elections will be managed while maintaining the state's control over election methods.

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25.0495.01000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly HOUSE BILL NO.
Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota In Regular Session Commencing Tuesday, January 7, 2025 HOUSE BILL NO.
1297 of North Dakota Introduced by Representatives Koppelman, Heilman, Heinert, Kasper, Louser Senators Castaneda, Clemens, Enget, Paulson, Wobbema, Larson A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 16.1-01 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to prohibiting approval voting and ranked-choice voting in elections;
1297 (Representatives Koppelman, Heilman, Heinert, Kasper, Louser) (Senators Castaneda, Clemens, Enget, Paulson, Wobbema, Larson) AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 16.1-01 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to prohibiting approval voting and ranked-choice voting in elections;
Page No.
3.
1 25.0495.01000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly 3.
Page No.
H.
2 25.0495.01000
B.
NO.
1297 - PAGE 2 ____________________________ ____________________________ Speaker of the House President of the Senate ____________________________ ____________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Secretary of the Senate This certifies that the within bill originated in the House of Representatives of the Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota and is known on the records of that body as House Bill No.
1297.
House Vote:
Yeas 75 Nays 16 Absent 3 Senate Vote:
Yeas 38 Nays 8 Absent 1 ____________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Received by the Governor at ________M.
on _____________________________________, 2025.
Approved at ________M.
on __________________________________________________, 2025.
____________________________ Governor Filed in this office this ___________day of _______________________________________, 2025, at ________ o’clock ________M.
____________________________ Secretary of State
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Action History

  1. Filed with Secretary Of State 04/16

  2. Signed by Governor 04/16

  3. Sent to Governor

  4. Signed by Speaker

  5. Signed by President

  6. Returned to House

  7. Second reading, passed, yeas 38 nays 8

  8. Amendment failed

  9. Amendment proposed on floor

  10. Reported back, do pass, place on calendar 4 2 0

  11. Committee Hearing 03:30

  12. Rereferred to State and Local Government

  13. Request return from committee

  14. Introduced, first reading, referred Judiciary Committee

  15. Received from House

  16. Second reading, passed, yeas 75 nays 16

  17. Reported back, do pass, place on calendar 6 4 4

  18. Committee Hearing 04:00

  19. Committee Hearing 10:30

  20. Introduced, first reading, referred Government and Veterans Affairs Committee

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 10 co-sponsors · 137 not signed on · 24 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (10)

Not signed on (137)

137 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 137 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Motion for Final Passage on HB 1297

Passed 38 Yea · 8 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 36501
Democratic 2300
Total 38801
% of votes cast 81%17%0%2%
How each member voted (47)
Member Party Vote
Boschee, Josh Democratic Nay
Braunberger, Ryan Democratic Nay
Hogan, Kathy Democratic Nay
Marcellais, Richard Democratic Yea
Mathern, Tim Democratic Yea
Axtman, Michelle Republican Yea
Barta, Jeff Republican Yea
Beard, Todd Republican Yea
Bekkedahl, Brad Republican Yea
Boehm, Keith Republican Yea
Burckhard, Randy A. Republican Yea
Castaneda, Jose L. Republican Yea
Cleary, Sean Republican Nay
Clemens, David A. Republican Yea
Conley, Cole Republican Yea
Cory, Claire Republican Yea
Davison, Kyle Republican Yea
Dever, Dick Republican Nay
Dwyer, Michael Republican Yea
Enget, Mark Republican Yea
Erbele, Robert Republican Yea
Gerhardt, Justin Republican Yea
Hogue, David Republican Yea
Kessel, Greg Republican Yea
Klein, Jerry Republican Yea
Larson, Diane Republican Yea
Lee, Judy Republican Yea
Lemm, Randy D. Republican Yea
Luick, Larry Republican Yea
Magrum, Jeffery J. Republican Yea
Meyer, Scott Republican Yea
Myrdal, Janne Republican Yea
Patten, Dale Republican Yea
Paulson, Bob Republican Yea
Powers, Michelle Republican Yea
Roers, Kristin Republican Yea
Rummel, Dean Republican Nay
Schaible, Donald Republican Yea
Sickler, Jonathan Republican Nay
Sorvaag, Ronald Republican Yea
Thomas, Paul J. Republican Not Voting
Walen, Chuck Republican Yea
Wanzek, Terry M. Republican Nay
Weber, Mark F. Republican Yea
Weston, Kent Republican Yea
Wobbema, Mike Republican Yea
van Oosting, Desiree Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Motion for Final Passage on HB 1297

Passed 75 Yea · 16 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 75503
Democratic 01100
Total 751603
% of votes cast 80%17%0%3%
How each member voted (94)
Member Party Vote
Brown, Collette Democratic Nay
Conmy, Liz Democratic Nay
Davis, Jayme Democratic Nay
Dobervich, Gretchen Democratic Nay
Finley-DeVille, Lisa Democratic Nay
Foss, Austin Democratic Nay
Hager, LaurieBeth Democratic Nay
Hanson, Karla Rose Democratic Nay
Ista, Zachary Democratic Nay
Mitskog, Alisa Democratic Nay
Schneider, Mary Democratic Nay
Anderson, Bert Republican Yea
Anderson, Dick Republican Not Voting
Anderson, Karen A. Republican Yea
Bahl, Landon Republican Yea
Beltz, Mike Republican Yea
Berg, Mike Republican Yea
Bolinske, Macy Republican Yea
Bosch, Glenn Republican Yea
Brandenburg, Mike Republican Not Voting
Christianson, Nels Republican Yea
Christy, Josh Republican Not Voting
Dockter, Jason Republican Yea
Dressler, Ty Republican Yea
Fegley, Clayton Republican Yea
Fisher, Jay Republican Yea
Frelich, Kathy Republican Yea
Grindberg, Karen Republican Yea
Grueneich, Jim Republican Yea
Hagert, Jared C. Republican Yea
Hatlestad, Patrick R. Republican Yea
Hauck, Dori Republican Yea
Headland, Craig Republican Yea
Heilman, Matthew Republican Yea
Heinert, Pat D. Republican Yea
Henderson, Donna Republican Yea
Hendrix, Jared Republican Yea
Holle, Dawson Republican Yea
Hoverson, Jeff Republican Yea
Johnson, Jorin Republican Yea
Johnston, Daniel Republican Yea
Jonas, Jim Republican Yea
Karls, Karen Republican Yea
Kasper, Jim Republican Yea
Kempenich, Keith Republican Yea
Kiefert, Dwight Republican Yea
Klemin, Lawrence R. Republican Yea
Koppelman, Ben Republican Yea
Lefor, Mike Republican Yea
Longmuir, Donald W. Republican Yea
Louser, Scott Republican Yea
Maki, Roger A. Republican Yea
Marschall, Andrew Republican Yea
Martinson, Bob Republican Yea
McLeod, Carrie Republican Yea
Meier, Lisa Republican Yea
Monson, David Republican Yea
Morton, Desiree Republican Yea
Motschenbacher, Mike Republican Yea
Murphy, Eric J. Republican Yea
Nathe, Mike Republican Yea
Nehring, Dennis Republican Yea
Nelson, Jon O. Republican Nay
Novak, Anna S. Republican Yea
O'Brien, Emily Republican Yea
Olson, Jeremy Republican Yea
Olson, Jeremy Republican Yea
Osowski, Doug Republican Yea
Ostlie, Mitch Republican Yea
Porter, Todd Republican Yea
Pyle, Brandy L. Republican Yea
Richter, David Republican Nay
Rios, Nico Republican Yea
Rohr, Karen M. Republican Yea
Ruby, Dan Republican Yea
Ruby, Matthew Republican Yea
Sanford, Mark Republican Yea
Satrom, Bernie Republican Yea
Schatz, Mike Republican Yea
Schauer, Austen Republican Nay
Schreiber-Beck, Cynthia Republican Nay
Steiner, Vicky Republican Yea
Stemen, Gregory Republican Yea
Swiontek, Steve Republican Nay
Toman, Nathan Republican Yea
Tveit, Bill Republican Yea
VanWinkle, Lori Republican Yea
Vetter, Steve Republican Yea
Vigesaa, Don Republican Yea
Vollmer, Daniel R. Republican Yea
Wagner, Scott Republican Yea
Warrey, Jonathan Republican Yea
Weisz, Robin Republican Yea
Wolff, Christina Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

elections
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 1297 do?
Relating to prohibiting approval voting and ranked‑choice voting in elections; and to amend and reenact subsection 7 of section 11‑09.1‑05 and subsection 9 of section 40‑05.1‑06 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to home rule powers in counties and cities.
Who sponsors HB 1297?
HB 1297 is sponsored by Wobbema, Mike (Republican), Paulson, Bob (Republican), Louser, Scott (Republican), Larson, Diane (Republican), Kasper, Jim (Republican), Heinert, Pat D. (Republican), Heilman, Matthew (Republican), Enget, Mark (Republican), Clemens, David A. (Republican), Castaneda, Jose L. (Republican), and Koppelman, Ben (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 1297?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 13, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 1297?
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