An overview of all 5 ND ballot measures: what they are, what they'll do

Nationally, there's always a lot at stake for general elections. But in North Dakota, there are five measures that could more directly affect your life than any presidential election.

Measure 1 would change the constitution to say in order to represent a district in the state legislature, you must live there. If lawmakers move out of their district in the middle of their term, they forfeit their seats.

Measure 2 is a question over how to manage the state's public school savings fund. The measure would amend the constitution to allow the legislature to use money from the savings fund for education related purposes.

As of now, it may only be touched when the governor issues an allotment, as Governor Jack Dalrymple has done twice this year. It would require the fund stay at at least 30 percent of the current biennium's education budget.

Measure 3 would add about 20 victims rights into the state's constitution. Any victim of a crime would be granted the right to refuse deposition, the right to be notified of the release of the accused, the right to be notified of these rights and more.

Measure 4 would increase the excise tax on tobacco from $0.44 to $2.20 per pack. It would also raise the tax on other tobacco items from 28 percent to 56 percent of the wholesale price.

Fifty percent of the money raised would go to the General Fund, 25 percent would go to the Veterans' Tobacco Trust Fund and 25 percent would go to the Community Health Trust Fund.

Measure 5 would legalize Medical Marijuana for diseases such as cancer, AIDS, hepatitis C, ALS, glaucoma, and epilepsy. The North Dakota Department of Health would regulate the program.

A yes vote on Measures 1 through 3 would change the state's constitution, while Measures 4 and 5 would change the Century Code.