Voter Registration, Campaign Finance Reporting Debated by North Dakota State Lawmakers

 Rep. Mike Schatz, R-New England, speaks in a favor of a bill to require voter registration in North Dakota. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)

(Mary Steurer – North Dakota Monitor) – The latest proposal to require voter registration in North Dakota met strong opposition.

North Dakota is the only state in the country without voter registration. Instead, voters must provide valid identification at the polls or when they request a mail-in ballot.

Over the years, state lawmakers have repeatedly heard — and rejected — bills to implement a registration process. Rep. Mike Schatz, R-New England, is reviving the effort this session with House Bill 1287.

“I’m not super advocating for this, but I do want to get a pulse on how people feel about voter registration,” Schatz told the House Government and Veteran Affairs Committee.

He said in his view, one possible advantage of voter registration is that it could curb cross-over voting.

“I want Republican Party members voting to choose the Republican candidates, the Democratic Party members voting to choose the Democratic candidates, and the independents voting for neither in the primary,” he said.