Total Voting Age
The annually estimated number from the Census Bureau for North Dakotans 18 years or older. North Dakota determines its voter turnout by comparing the number of cast ballots (1 ballot per voter) with the total number of possible voters in the state rather than registration numbers as in other states.
(nonqualified) Write-In Votes
Unreadable or fictitious names.
Counting write-in votes
State law determines that the write-in votes for any
contest may only be separated by individual write-in
candidate name when the number of write-in votes for the
contest reaches various thresholds. For complete
guidelines regarding the counting of write-in votes,
please see North Dakota Century Code 16.1-12-02.2, which
can be found at
Follow This Contest/My
Follow the results for certain contests by checking
the box next to the words “Follow this Contest.” Click
“My Tracked Contests” to view selected contests.
Election results are made official after the County
Canvassing board (no more than six days following
election) and the State Canvassing Board (no more than
17 days following the election) occur.
“Early & Absentee Votes
May Not Be Included” message
Early and absentee votes may be tabulated by a
separate election board on Election Day and uploaded at
the end of the night. When all county results are
reported, this message will change to “Election Day
Tracking of all contests within the state that may
qualify for a recount.
In a Primary Election
recount will occur when any individual fails to
be nominated by 1% or less of the highest vote
cast for a candidate for the office sought.
A demand recount
can occur when any individual fails to be
nominated by more than 1% and less than 2% of
the highest vote cast for a candidate for the
In a General Election
recount will occur when any individual who
failed to be elected receives .5% or less of the
highest vote cast for a candidate for that
office. An automatic recount occurs for ballot
questions when they are decided by a margin of
.25% or less.
A demand recount
can occur when any individual who failed to be
elected receives more than .5% but less than 2%
of the highest vote cast for a candidate for