Voters come out for June election in North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - Since the polls opened at 7 a.m., voters trickled into Bismarck’s Event Center and to polling locations across the state. They’re casting their ballots for primary elections with legislative, statewide, and county positions, and general elections for the city and school boards.

In Bismarck, voters arrived in small waves.

“The turnout has been quite slow. We are hoping for more people to walk through the door,” said Election Inspector Duane Friedig.

Those that did stop by said it’s important for them to exercise their voice.

“I vote in these elections because local issues affect you most. That is something that was taught to me by Christopher Dodson actually, that it is your local laws, it is your community laws, it is your state laws that affect you more than the federal laws,” said Msgr. Patrick Schumacher of Bismarck.

“I always vote. I have been voting since I was old enough. It’s the right of us as Americans,” said Bismarck resident Dean Carlson.

Most of the day there was no line. The process is simple: volunteers verify your identification. Ask if you would like to vote by paper ballot or with the new automated express voting machines. Then they set you up at your booth or station.

“You cannot make a mistake, the machine will not allow you to make a mistake,” added Friedig.

The machines give voters the opportunity to check their votes with a printed vote record before they submit them. Many voters tested them out.

“I voted the automated system for the first time. Very enjoyable. Very easy,” said Msgr. Schumacher.

Others stuck to their “tried and true” method.

“No, I didn’t go to the new automatic yet. I didn’t want to be dumber than a machine,” laughed Carlson.

And as of Monday morning, more than 44,000 people had voted through absentee and mail-in ballots. The final number of early voters will be released after polls are closed.

In past years, the June election has had a lower turnout than the November election.

Voting information can be found at vote.nd.gov. For those that want to vote but might not have a ride to the voting booth, Bis-Man Transit says it will offer free rides to polling locations. Polls close at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday.

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