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CT voters pass no-excuse absentee voting amendment; Biden urges Americans to 'bring down the temperature' after Trump's US election win; As FSA loan changes aim to support farmers, advocates say more needed; As leaves fall in AZ, calls renewed to incentivize electric lawn equipment.

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President Biden asks Americans to turn down the temperature, House Speaker Mike Johnson promises an aggressive first 100 day agenda and Democratic governors vow to push back on Trump's plan for mass deportations.

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Texas women travel some of the longest distances for abortion care, Californians the shortest, rural living comes with mixed blessings for veterans, an ancient technique could curtail climate-change wildfires, and escape divisive politics on World Kindness Day.

Voting in ND: It's not too late to brush up on your rights

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Thursday, October 24, 2024   

Early in-person voting kicked off this week in certain North Dakota counties and whether it is now or on Election Day, voters are reminded to head to their polling location with a deep understanding of their rights and what is on their ballot.

Beyond the race for the White House, the governor's seat and Congressional races, North Dakotans also have plenty of ballot questions to decide.

Cody Schuler, advocacy director for the ACLU of North Dakota, said voters do not want to risk missing out on having their voices heard. If a technical issue or other problem arises at your polling site, he said being prepared with knowledge can help ensure the matter is quickly resolved. It starts with asking for assistance.

"If you need interpreter services, whether you need some clarification, election workers can help you with that," Schuler pointed out. "You can also bring somebody with you. Most people don't realize that. If you have a disability, you can have someone assist you if you have a hard time holding a pen to be able to fill in the oval."

He noted the person you bring along can be a trusted family member or friend but they cannot be a political candidate or a candidate's relative. Other tips include making sure your ID is valid and up to date, and knowing your polling location's address and hours. North Dakota has five statewide ballot questions and Schuler stressed it should prompt voters to research them ahead of time.

The ballot questions range from marijuana legalization to restricting local governments from collecting property taxes. One would overhaul the rules for getting a future ballot initiative passed. Schuler acknowledged when you are in a voting booth, you might feel a sense of unease if you do not understand the questions before you.

"You can look on your phone, look up online what those measures are but also by state law, every polling location should have several copies of the full text of every ballot initiative for a voter to review," Schuler explained. "All you have to do is ask for them."

Under state law, there's a 30-minute time limit to fill out your ballot, so either being prepared or seeking out a worker can help eliminate feeling rushed. If a problem cannot be dealt with onsite, Schuler recommended reaching out to the Secretary of State or such groups as the League of Women Voters, the ACLU and North Dakota Native Vote.

There is also the Election Protection Hotline at 866-687-8683.

Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York.


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