In a decisive move, North Dakota’s governor has put a stop to the unique voting systems employed by its most populous city. Signed into law on Wednesday, this legislation bans ranked-choice and approval voting, methods previously adopted in far-flung locations such as Alaska, Maine, and various cities across the nation.
Ranked-choice voting allows citizens to rank candidates in order of preference. However, North Dakota itself never utilized this system. Approval voting, on the other hand, gives voters the chance to select as many candidates as they prefer, with the highest scorers winning. Enacted in Fargo through a 2018 ballot initiative, this latter system has been the basis for mayoral and city commission elections, a response to elections where candidates could win with minimal majority shares due to the number of contenders.
In the elections of 2018, prior to the implementation of approval voting, winning candidates for the commission had only amassed 18% and 16.5% of the vote. This contrasts with the 2024 elections, where those elected enjoyed support from nearly half of the voters, at 46% and 44.5%, under the new system. Over three city elections, this method became a staple.
Proponents, including Fargo’s Mayor Tim Mahoney, argue that approval voting worked efficiently for the city. Nonetheless, the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Ben Koppelman from West Fargo, criticized the system for favoring less controversial candidates. Furthermore, Republican Secretary of State Michael Howe supported the measure, advocating for uniform electoral processes statewide.
The governor expressed that a straightforward and unified voter experience is crucial to maintaining electoral integrity across North Dakota. This legislative change comes despite a previous attempt to ban Fargo’s system in 2023, which was vetoed by then-Gov. Doug Burgum on grounds of limiting local governance. Although the House contested the veto, the Senate maintained it.
Fargo’s leadership anticipated the legislative outcome due to substantial support within the state legislature. “The people of Fargo valued our approval voting system. It served us well, but we acknowledge and respect the legislative decision,” stated Mayor Mahoney, recognizing the end of a distinctive voting era for the city.
The next election in Fargo, scheduled for June 2026, will cover mayoral and two City Commission seats, now set to be conducted under the standardized voting legislation.