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Committee backs measure allowing 18‑year‑old students to leave campus to vote; bill passes committee 12‑0
Summary
House Bill 1178 would direct local school boards to adopt policies allowing students age 18 and older to leave campus to vote. Student sponsor and the Secretary of State supported the bill; the committee voted a "do pass" recommendation 12‑0 with one absent.
Representative Anna Novak introduced House Bill 1178, authored with input from a Beulah High School senior, as a measure directing school boards to adopt a policy allowing students 18 and older to leave campus to vote in elections.
Sophia Dosto, the student sponsor, told the committee she had seen upperclassmen miss the opportunity to vote because they were "stuck in class and did not wanna risk being counted as absent." She testified the bill would "remove barriers that could restrict many high school students from making it to the polls" and noted research suggesting early voting habits increase later participation.
Secretary of State Michael Howe testified in support and encouraged local adoption. He said North Dakota already offers secure voting options and described state systems that account for newly eligible voters: "To vote in North Dakota, you have to have a North Dakota ID," and the central voter file reflects age and eligibility so students who turn 18 are available to vote. Howe noted counties may offer early in‑person voting in advance of Election Day and that the bill complements existing options.
Committee members discussed practicalities such as extracurricular conflicts, whether mail‑in voting could be an alternative, and how local school policies would implement time allowances (for example, lunch periods or off‑hours). Representative Hager and others said local control—letting each school board set a policy—was appropriate. No opposition testified. The committee voted a do‑pass recommendation on House Bill 1178; Representative Osley moved for the du‑pass, Representative Hager seconded, and the roll call recorded the outcome as 12 yeas, 0 nays, 1 absent (not voting).
Ending: The committee recommended HB1178 do pass by a 12‑0 recorded vote and will carry the bill to the House floor; the measure directs local school boards to adopt or authorize local policies to allow eligible students time to vote.
