(FARGO, ND) – The City of Fargo isn’t challenging a ban on ranked-choice voting.
House Bill 1297 bans ranked-choice or approval voting. Legislation says the two types of voting ‘may not be used in any election held within this state to elect or nominate a candidate to any local, state or federal elective office.’ Further, it says any ordinances adopted by political subdivisions, including an ordinance adopted under home rule charter cities, is void.
“While we believe approval voting is a fair system, the Legislature has voted overwhelmingly to ban this method and we will respect it; to mount a challenge in the face of the legislators’ opposition would be picking a losing battle,” he said.
The Mayor said the residents spoke in favor of the approval voting issue.
“The residents of Fargo – our constituents – voted to have an approval voting system,” Mayor Tim Mahoney said. “It was Fargo’s choice and it was Fargo’s right to form such a system under the Home-Rule Charter. The Home-Rule Charter is clear in giving North Dakota cities control over their local elections.”
