BISMARCK, N.D. (KFGO) – The North Dakota Senate failed to override Governor Doug Burgum’s veto of the approval voting ban, which means Fargo will be able to continue using the voting method in its city elections.
The House overrode the Governor’s veto last week but the Senate fell four votes short of the 2/3 majority needed. The Senate previously passed HB 1273 with 33 votes but only 28 members voted to override Burgum’s veto on Wednesday afternoon.
In his veto message, Burgum said the ban undermined local control and the ability of residents under home rule to determine which method of local city election is best for their communities.
Fargo is the only city in the state to use approval or ranked voting. Voters are able to vote for as many candidates as they wish and those receiving the most votes win.
More than 63 percent of city voters okayed the method through a ballot measure in 2018.
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