Case Summary

On August 12, 2020, a coalition of non-profit organizations and North Dakota voters filed a petition with the North Dakota Supreme Court challenging the Secretary of State’s determination that “Initiated Ballot Measure 3,” which proposed a constitutional amendment to create a redistricting commission and establish new redistricting criteria among other changes, had qualified for the 2020 ballot. Petitioners argued the measure didn’t qualify for ballot placement because signature gatherers allegedly failed to give potential signers of the initiative petition the complete text of the proposal. They sought an injunction barring the measure from being placed on the 2020 ballot.

  • On August 25, 2020, the North Dakota Supreme Court unanimously granted the injunction on the grounds the initiative petition did not include the full text of the proposed measure, thereby barring it from appearing on the 2020 ballot.

Case Library

North Dakota Supreme Court - 20200213