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Commissioners approve June ballot wording to let countywide voters elect commissioners who must reside in their districts
Summary
The Griggs County Commission approved ballot language for a June question that would require commissioners to reside in their districts while allowing countywide (at‑large) voting; the board set the change to take effect in 2028 and instructed staff to submit wording to the secretary of state by the filing deadline.
Commissioners reviewed draft ballot language to ask voters whether Griggs County Commissioner candidates should be required to reside in their respective districts while being elected in an at‑large election.
Staff read the proposed wording and commissioners discussed clarifying phrases so voters would understand the difference between district residency and countywide voting. Commissioners confirmed the residency requirement that a candidate be a qualified elector of the district (30 days residency was referenced as the prevailing requirement). The board agreed to include a sentence noting that the change would not take effect immediately and would be implemented beginning in 2028 to avoid confusion about upcoming elections.
Rod moved to approve the wording for the June ballot and Scott/Josh seconded; the motion carried unanimously. Staff said the county must file final wording with the appropriate office by the day's 4:00 p.m. deadline for the June ballot and that the secretary of state's office will supply the official explanatory phrases for yes/no on the ballot.
Why it matters: the change would alter how voters across the county participate in commissioner elections (countywide ballots) while retaining a geographic residency requirement for candidates; it is a structural change to local representation and will be decided by voters.
What’s next: staff will file the approved wording, and the commission and staff intend to publish neutral explanatory material for voters explaining how at‑large elections with district residency would operate and the 2028 effective date.
