BISMARCK, ND ( KXNET ) — With misinformation about the integrity of our voting systems in America spreading across social media, including here in North Dakota, have expressed frustration with how recent elections have been run. As the state’s chief election official, North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe says he takes these concerns very seriously, and ensures North Dakotans their votes are handled in the most secure process possible.

The concerns of non-citizens voting in elections are among one of their biggest issues.
Article two of the state Constitution mandates that only U.S. citizens 18 and older and North Dakota residents can vote in the state. Secretary Howe wants voters to know that the state’s election system is closely watched, and there are provisions in place to ensure they get to cast a ballot.

North Dakota’s Voter I.D. law requires that all residents must present a valid form of identification to vote. When checking in at their precinct, residents are allowed to show one of four different forms of identification: A North Dakota driver’s license, a North Dakota non-driver’s I.D., a tribal I.D. or a tribal letter, or a long-term care certificate.

The Voter I.D. Law also applies to absentee voters. In North Dakota, a voter must first fill out an application from their county auditor’s office, and then provide a valid I.D. to receive an absentee ballot.

“There is a check and balance system,” Howe adds. “Upon identity verification, that county will then mail you a ballot for the election.”

Howe adds that the Voter I.D. law also allows election officials to verify voters are only casting one ballot in each election.

With new technology being used at the polls, some voters have raised concerns about people hacking into voting machines connected to the internet and manipulating the vote counts — However, Howe says there is no possibility of that ever happening here in North Dakota.

“Our paper ballot tabulators are not connected to the internet,” he states. “There is no internet capability with the ballot tabulator nor on those express touch screens.”

Voters have also raised concerns after Meta’s Chief Executive Officer, Mark Zuckerberg, donated millions of dollars to help state and local election officials fund the administering of their elections in 2020. Shortly after that election, Secretary Howe says the North Dakota State Legislature stepped in to pass legislation that outlawed the use of private money to fund public elections in the state.

“Our Legislature has been very proactive in passing laws to ensure the security of the election process,” he concludes.

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