As of the 2020 Census, North Dakota has only one at-large congressional district. Legislative plans are enacted by the North Dakota Legislative Assembly, subject to the Governor’s veto.
North Dakota’s congressional delegation remained at 1 seat following the 2020 reapportionment.
As of the 2020 U.S. Census, North Dakota only has one at-large congressional district.
Primary Authority: North Dakota Legislative Assembly draws and enacts legislative plans, subject to the Governor’s veto. The Legislative Assembly can override a veto with a 2/3 vote in each chamber. Republicans currently have veto-proof majorities in both chambers.
If a bill is presented to the governor during session, the governor has 3 days to sign or veto it; otherwise, it becomes law without signature. If the bill is delivered to the governor during the last 3 days of the session, the governor must sign or veto it within 15 days of transmittal; otherwise, it becomes law. Saturdays and Sundays are excluded from these calculations.
Mapping Timeline: Legislative plans must be enacted by the end of the 1st regular session following the decennial census. [N.D. Const. art. IV, § 2]
Redistricting Criteria: Compact; Contiguous; As nearly equal in population as is practicable. Each district contains 1 Senator and 2 Representatives, with Representatives elected either at large from the district or from single-member subdistricts created therein. The Legislative Assembly can combine two Senate districts only when one such district includes a federal facility or installation containing more than 2/3 of the ideal population of a single Senate district. [N.D. Const. art. IV, § 2; N.D. Cent. Code § 54-03-01.5]
Map Challenges: Not specified.
Types of Measures: Direct initiatives are permitted to amend statutes and the state constitution, and referendums are permitted to amend statutes. Legislatively initiated ballot measures may amend both statutes and the state constitution.
Single-Subject Rule: No.
Initiative Subject Restrictions: Initiatives may not contain emergency measures or appropriations for the support or maintenance of state departments and institutions.
Signature Requirements: 25 preliminary signatures are required. Constitutional amendments require signatures equal to 4% of the total population of the state as determined by the last decennial census, 2% for statutory amendments, and 2% for veto referendums. As of the 2020 Decennial Census, North Dakota had a population of 779,094 people, so 31,164 signatures are required for constitutional amendments and 15,582 signatures are required for statutory amendments and referendums.
Submission Deadlines: Constitutional and statutory initiatives must be submitted no less than 120 days prior to the election in which it is to appear on the ballot (July 8, 2024). Referendums must be submitted within 90 days after the filing of the measure with the Secretary of State.
Circulation Period: The circulation period for initiative petitions is one year.
Ballot Title and Summary: A brief summary is drafted by the Secretary of State, subject to approval by the Attorney General. Expedited reviews for titles and summaries are not permitted.
Other Requirements: A fiscal impact statement is required. Circulators must be at least 18 years of age and be an elector of the state. There are no supermajority requirements. The Legislative Assembly cannot amend or repeal an approved initiative for 7 years following its approval unless 2/3 of the Legislative Assembly votes in favor. Initiatives are permitted on general, primary, and special election ballots, but not on odd-year ballots.
[N.D. Const. art. III, §§ 1 – 10; N.D. Cent. Code §§ 16.1-01-09 – 16.1-01-11; North Dakota Secretary of State Website]
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Current districts for North Dakota by chamber, shaded by the incumbent’s party.
To view past district shapefiles, see our Map Archive Page.
