LISTEN: North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe’s conversation with The Flag’s Scott Hennen
NORTH DAKOTA – City Council, City Commission, County Commission, School Board and Park Board elections in North Dakota are held in June, but what would it take to change that?
North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe said the Legislature sets when those elections happen. A bill to change it would have to be passed by the North Dakota House and Senate and signed into law by the governor.
“The argument from school districts’ perspective would be we need school boards in place before our budget decisions are made for the upcoming year. Those budget decisions are made in the spring and summertime. They’d want their full compliment of school board members in place by then,” Howe said on The Flag.
Howe said the June primary elections have around 20% voter turnout while elections in November during a presidential election year have 63% turnout. Midterm elections see 40% turnout.
