Political Quotes

“I again commend the State of North Dakota's open and accessible voting system. Our intent in drafting section 102 was to require that voters who were challenged, but felt that they had the legal right to vote, were given the opportunity to cast a ballot and then have that ballot set aside and verified. North Dakota's system goes beyond this intent by being even more voter-friendly. Based on my understanding of your description of North Dakota's system, North Dakota should be able to continue operating its more voter-friendly voter challenge system. For example, paragraphs (a)(3) and (a)(4) of section 102 requires election officials to verify the written affirmation of that voter's eligibility before the ballot is counted. Under North Dakota State law, as you have represented it to me, verification happens upon the execution of a written affidavit. The fact that the verification by the election official that is required under this bill occurs prior to the ballot being cast instead of after the ballot is cast is a function of North Dakota's registration-less system. It therefore satisfies all of the requirements of section 102(a). I should point out that under subsection 102(a)(5), the individual who voted via affidavit will need to be provided written notification at the time he casts his or her ballot that he or she will not receive any further notification--because as a matter of state law, that person's vote has been counted.”