Herald columnist Lloyd Omdahl recently wrote a piece criticizing the one-party system in North Dakota. He has conveniently forgotten that when he was lieutenant governor, the state was one-party Democrat for numerous years. Did he complain about it then?
He also wrote about a bill to require proof of citizenship that he says is designed to reduce the number of voters.
As a judge in past elections, we received guide booklets that specified what voters needed to get a ballot. First, the voter needs to provide identification (ID) to verify eligibility. Those requirements include one of the following: 1. a form of ID that shows a voter's name, residential address and date of birth; 2. Current driver’s license or non-driver’s ID card; 3. Tribal government-issued ID; 4. Long-term care certificate provided by the facility. Most used a driver’s license.
If their form of ID is not correct (such as name change or moving), then they must present one of the following; 1. A current utility bill, 2. A current bank statement, 3. A check issued by a federal, state, local, or tribal government, 4. Any other document that has the member’s name, date of birth and current address.
Voters without a valid ID may mark a ballot without a judge’s initials that will be set aside in a sealed envelope. If the voter can later provide one of the above forms of ID, then the ballot goes to the canvassing board, where it will be counted.
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The purpose of these requirements is not to deter people from voting but to ensure that the voter is old enough to vote, a U.S. citizen and a resident of the district in which he or she desires to vote.
Can you prove your comments, Mr. Omdahl?
The Trust Project
