Press Poll: Majority of southwest North Dakota respondents say they will vote in-person on election day

Jun. 3—DICKINSON — The Dickinson Press conducted a southwest North Dakota poll, asking residents, "Have you cast your vote for the 2022 primaries?" The results indicate a majority of voters plan to vote in-person at polling locations across the Western Edge on primary election day, June 14.

Primary elections are a process by which voters can indicate their preference for their party's candidate, or a candidate in general, in an upcoming general election, local election or by-election.

The policies governing voter participation in North Dakota are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level, with policies on voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems and more. The State's chief election official is Secretary of State Al Jaeger.

According to the Secretary of State's office, voting is made easy through absentee and mail ballots because North Dakota's system of voting, and lack of voter registration, is rooted in its rural character by providing small precincts. By establishing relatively small precincts, the state intends to ensure that election boards know the voters who come to the polls to vote on Election Day and can easily detect those who should not be voting in the precinct.

"All eligible North Dakotans have the option to request a ballot before the day of an election in a process known as absentee voting. You do not need to provide a reason for why you are requesting an absentee,"

A memo from the state reads

. "However, you will be required to complete an application and sign an affidavit. You may submit an application anytime during the calendar year of an election; however, ballots are not available until the fortieth day before an election."

According to the Dickinson Press poll, 33% of southwest North Dakota respondents said they had already cast their ballot for the 2022 primaries through absentee voting — a percentage that is slighter higher than in previous election years.

The majority of respondents on the Western Edge, 52%, said they would be voting on election day in person at one of the many polling locations in Stark, Hettinger, Dunn, Billings and Slope Counties.

There are four election day polling locations for the primary election in Stark County, two election day polling locations in Dunn County and one election day polling location in Hettinger County. Election day is Tuesday, June 14 from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Stark County voters can cast their vote on election day at the Prairie Hills Mall, located at 1681 Third Ave W, in Dickinson; the Henry Biesiot Activity Center, located at 398 State Ave, in Dickinson; The Belfield City Hall, located at 208 Main Street North, in Belfield; and the Richardton City Hall, located at 111 North Ave West, in Richardton.

Dunn County voters can vote on election day at the Dunn County Courthouse, located at 205 Owens St. in Manning; or the Twin Buttes Community Center 80 J Ave. NW in Twin Buttes — which is east of BIA Route 20 and north of Seventh St. NW.

Hettinger County Auditor Jeri Schmidt said that the election day polling location will The Enchanted Castle Hotel in Regent, located at 607 Main Ave South — approximately four blocks southwest of Regent City Hall.

According to the Dickinson Press' poll, 15% of respondents stated that they either don't vote in elections or didn't realize that it was an election year.

For more information on election day voting, or absentee voting options, contact your county election officer.