Responsive Gov’s Grade TL;DR

Despite passing small pro-voter reforms, North Dakota restricted mail voting by eliminating the postmark deadline. The new requirement that ballots be received — not just mailed — by Election Day creates logistical hurdles and reduces voter confidence. Reflecting this step backward, the state earned a C+.

Looking Back

Where North Dakota Started at the Beginning of 2025

• Automatic Voter Registration: N/A
• Online Voter Registration: N/A
• Same-Day Registration: N/A
• Restoration of Rights: Prison Disenfranchisement
• Vote by Mail: No-Excuse
• Electronic Registration Information Center Member: No
• Early Voting Opportunities: Regular Ballot Early Voting
• ID Requirements: Strict Non-Photo ID

Relying on the Cost of Voting Index for North Dakota as of 2024, we considered the state a top tier state for pre-existing voting policy and compared its 2025 activity against other top tier states.

How Our Tier Compares

• COVI (2024): 16th
• EPI Score (2022): 12th

2025: This Past Year

Legislative Action

The North Dakota Legislature enacted several new restrictions to its election laws during the 2025 session.

• HB 1165 shortens the receipt deadline for mail ballots to close of polls. Previously, ballots postmarked the day before the election and received within 13 days post-election would be counted.
• HB 1178 requires school districts to adopt a policy to allow high school students that are qualified voters to take a break to vote during the school day.
• SB 2175 requires each county to randomly select one polling location within its jurisdiction to undergo a post-election audit. The bill also authorizes the secretary of state to call for additional audits if discrepancies are found. The reliability of an audit depends heavily on its quality and implementation details; the bill simply allows the secretary to “further define the procedure” so it’s unclear how reliable the audits will be in practice.