ND SB2343

Amends North Dakota Century Code section 16.1-12-02.2 regarding counting and reporting of write-in votes.

Write-in candidates for president, statewide offices, judicial district offices, legislative district offices, and other county or local offices must file certificates of candidacy by specified deadlines (4 p.m. on the 21st day before election for statewide/presidential candidates; 4 p.m. on the 4th day before election for legislative district and other local candidates).

Write-in votes cannot be counted unless the voter darkened the oval next to the write-in line on the ballot, except that nonfederal office candidates may request within 36 hours of the canvassing board meeting that unmarked write-in votes be individually reviewed and counted if they meet vote threshold requirements.

Election boards must not count write-in votes for candidates who did not file required certificates, fictitious persons, ineligible individuals, or votes that constitute 5% or less of votes cast for the leading candidate (except in primary elections where write-in votes qualify a name for general election ballot).

Write-in candidates required to file a certificate of candidacy may not seek more than one office on the primary and general election ballots.