Direct Democracy in North Dakota: A Voter's Guide to Ballot Measures

When most people think about voting in North Dakota, they picture candidate races — governor, senator, state legislator. But on nearly every ballot, North Dakotans are also asked to weigh in directly on policy questions that become law if they pass.

These are called ballot measures, and they give North Dakotans a tool to act when their elected representatives won't. If you're new to the concept, our guides on [what direct democracy is and why it matters] and [how ballot measures, initiatives, and referendums work] cover the fundamentals. This article focuses on how that process works in North Dakota specifically, what voters here have accomplished with it, and what's on the line in 2026.

What Is Direct Democracy, and How Does It Work in North Dakota?

Direct democracy, at its core, is when voters make policy decisions directly rather than relying on elected representatives to act for them. Ballot measures are the primary form of direct democracy in the United States, and North Dakota has one of the longest and richest histories of it in the country.

North Dakota's initiative process dates back to 1914, when voters amended the state constitution to give themselves the right to propose laws and constitutional amendments directly. Four years later, in 1918, the first seven ballot measures to reach the North Dakota statewide ballot were placed before voters — and all seven passed. Since then, more than 160 citizen initiatives have appeared on North Dakota's statewide ballot.

Read our article about how [representative democracy vs. direct democracy] differ and how they work together.

How Do Ballot Measures Work in North Dakota?

North Dakota offers four distinct forms of ballot measures, giving voters a broad toolkit for direct participation:

Citizen-initiated statutes. North Dakotans can propose a new state law by gathering signatures equal to 2% of the state's population — currently around 15,582 valid signatures — within one year of the petition being approved. If submitted at least 120 days before an election, the measure goes directly to voters.

Citizen-initiated constitutional amendments. Citizens can also propose changes to the North Dakota Constitution through the same signature-collection process, though the threshold is higher: 4% of the state's population, or around 31,164 signatures for 2026.

Veto referendums. If the North Dakota Legislature or the people of North Dakota pass a law that voters want to reject, citizens can gather signatures (2% of the state's population) within 90 days of the law's filing with the Secretary of State. If enough valid signatures are collected, the law goes before voters for approval or rejection.

Legislative referral. The North Dakota Legislature can also place constitutional amendments directly on the ballot when a majority of members in each chamber approve doing so. These referred amendments require simple majority voter approval to take effect.

What Kinds of Issues Have North Dakotans Decided Through Ballot Measures?

North Dakotans have used the ballot measure process to make meaningful policy changes on issues where the legislature refused to act — including government accountability, democratic reforms, and more.

• 2018: Ethics Commission. When state legislators declined to pass ethics reform despite years of Democratic lawmakers requesting it, a group of citizen organizers collected signatures to place Measure 1 on the ballot. The initiative created a state ethics commission to support open, ethical, and accountable government, banned foreign political contributions, and established conflict-of-interest rules. It passed with 54% of the vote over organized opposition from business groups and some legislators. The story has since become one of North Dakota's most well-known examples of citizens doing what their legislature wouldn't — and of the legislature later trying to limit the commission's power after voters created it.
• 2022: Term Limits. North Dakotans used a citizen initiative to add to the state constitution term limits for state legislators and the Governor, adding Article XV. The legislature had not acted to impose term limits on its own.
• 2024: Congressional Age Limits. Voters approved a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment adding Article XVI, addressing age limits for congressional candidates.

How Is Direct Democracy Changing in North Dakota?

Efforts have included raising signature requirements, shortening petition deadlines, and — in 2024 — referring a constitutional amendment to voters that would have required citizen-initiated measures to pass in two successive elections. Voters soundly rejected it.

In 2026, the legislature took an equally drastic approach. Politicians have once again referred an amendment to the voters that would change how North Dakota makes constitutional amendments, replacing its longstanding system of simple majority rule with a new system of minority rule. Measure 1 would raise the threshold for passing any future constitutional amendment from a simple majority to a 60%, meaning that just more than 40% of voters could block amendments supported by a majority of North Dakotans.

To understand what's at stake with Measure 1, see our full explainer: [What Is Measure 1 in North Dakota? The 2026 Supermajority Vote Explained].