The following will remain as a free post until the November 2024 election:
As the election gets closer, there will be more and more chatter about the five measures on the ballot.
Here’s your quick reference guide to the measures (Source: Ballotpedia, unless otherwise stated):
Measure #1
The North Dakota Update Constitutional Language Describing State Institutions Amendment is on the ballot in North Dakota as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 5, 2024.
A "yes" vote supports amending language used in the state constitution to describe certain state institutions such as changing "insane" to "individuals with mental illness", "feebleminded" to "individuals with developmental disabilities", and "deaf and dumb" to "deaf and hard of hearing."
A "no" vote opposes amending language used in the state constitution to describe certain state institutions.
What would the amendment change?
See also: Text of measure
This amendment would update the language used in the state constitution to describe certain state institutions. Under the amendment, the following institutions would be renamed:[1][2]
the state school for the deaf and dumb in Devils Lake would become the state school for the deaf and hard of hearing;
the state hospital for the insane in Jamestown would become the state hospital for the care of individuals with mental illness; and
the institution for the feebleminded in Grafton would become a facility for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Measure #2
The North Dakota Single-Subject Requirement for Initiatives and Require Constitutional Initiatives to be Passed Twice Amendment is on the ballot in North Dakota as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 5, 2024.
A "yes" vote supports this constitutional amendment to:
establish a single-subject rule for initiatives (both statutory and constitutional), as determined by the secretary of state;
increase the signature requirement for constitutional amendment initiatives from 4% of the resident population to 5% of the resident population of the state; and
require proposed constitutional initiatives that have qualified for the ballot to be placed on the next primary election ballot, and, if approved, be placed on the next general election ballot, where it must be approved again to become effective.
A "no" vote opposes this constitutional amendment to adopt a single-subject rule for initiatives and make changes to the signature requirement and election process for citizen-initiated constitutional initiatives.
What would the amendment change?
See also: Text of measure
This amendment would make changes to the state's initiative process and requirements, including:
establishing a single-subject rule for initiatives (both statutory and constitutional), as determined by the North Dakota Secretary of State;
increasing the signature requirement for constitutional amendment initiatives from 4% of the resident population to 5% of the resident population of the state; and
requiring proposed constitutional initiatives that have qualified for the ballot to be placed on the next primary election ballot in June, and, if approved, be placed on the next general election ballot in November, where it must be approved again to become effective.[1]
For more information, read The North Dakota Watchdog Networks’ previous work on Measure #2:
Measure #3
The North Dakota Legacy Fund Transfers Amendment is on the ballot in North Dakota as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 5, 2024.[1]
A "yes" vote supports decreasing the amount of money that can be expended from the state legacy fund, a fund that receives 30% of tax revenue from oil and gas production, from 15% to 5% of the principal of the fund over a period of two years, and provides for a distribution to be made from the state legacy fund to a legacy earnings fund rather than have the accrued earnings be sent to the general fund.
A "no" vote opposes decreasing the amount of money that can be expended from the state legacy fund, a fund that receives 30% of tax revenue from oil and gas production, from 15% to 5% of the principal of the fund over a period of two years, and provides for a distribution to be made from the state legacy fund to a legacy earnings fund rather than have the accrued earnings be sent to the general fund.
Overview
What would the amendment do?
The amendment would decrease the amount of money that can be expended from the state legacy fund during a two-year period from 15% to 5% of the principal of the fund. The state legacy fund is a fund that receives 30% of tax revenue from oil and gas production each month. The amendment would provide for a distribution to be made from the state legacy fund to a legacy earnings fund rather than have the accrued earnings be sent to the state general fund.[1]
Measure #4
North Dakota Initiated Measure 4, the Prohibit Taxes on Assessed Value of Real Property Initiative, is on the ballot in North Dakota as an initiated constitutional amendment on November 5, 2024.
A "yes" vote supports prohibiting the state and local governments from levying taxes on the assessed value of a home except for those designed to pay for bonded indebtedness.
A "no" vote opposes prohibiting the state and local governments from levying taxes on the assessed value of a home except for those designed to pay for bonded indebtedness.
Overview
What would Initiated Measure 4 do?
See also: Text of measure
This measure was designed to prohibit the state and local governments from levying taxes on the assessed value of a home except for those designed to pay for bonded indebtedness. The measure would not prohibit taxes levied on other aspects of a home such as square footage. The measure would limit the debt of a political subdivision (such as counties, cities, and towns) to 2.5% of the value of real property in the subdivision. Incorporated cities would be able to raise the debt limit to 4% through a two-thirds supermajority vote and school districts would be able to raise the debt limit to 5% through a simple majority vote. Cities would be able to become indebted by an additional 2% for water and sewer projects. A political subdivision would not be able to issue general obligation bonds to be paid back through property taxes after January 1, 2025.[1]
Under the measure, the state government would be required to replace property tax revenue to local governments in an amount equal to the amount of tax revenue levied on personal property, minus taxes levied for the purpose of paying for bonds, as of 2024.[1]
For more information, read The North Dakota Watchdog Networks’ previous work on Measure #4:
Measure #5
North Dakota Initiated Measure 5, the Marijuana Legalization Initiative, is on the ballot in North Dakota as an initiated state statute on November 5, 2024.
A "yes" vote supports legalizing recreational marijuana, allowing individuals to possess up to 1 oz of marijuana, 4g of concentrate, 300mg of edibles; and allowing individuals to grow three plants with a limit of six plants per household.
A "no" vote opposes legalizing recreational marijuana.
Overview
What would Initiated Measure 5 do?
See also: Text of measure
The initiative would legalize recreational marijuana. Under the measure, individuals could possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana flower, four grams of cannabinoid concentrate, 1,500mg of THC in the form of cannabinoid products, and 300mg of edibles. Individuals would be allowed to grow three plants with a limit of six plants per household.[1]
The measure would require the Department of Health and Human Services, or another department or agency designated by the state legislature, to establish marijuana regulations, including for the production and distribution of marijuana by October 1, 2025. Under the measure, the department could license up to seven cultivation facilities and 18 marijuana retailers.[1]
Watchdog Wenesday for October 9th, 2024
This week, Daryl Lies and I did a run-thru of the measures for both house of the program. You can listen to that here:
Quick Reference Guide to the November 2024 Measures