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Commission forwards nonpartisan-elections question to voters after study-commission recommendation
Summary
After receiving a study commission report and survey results, Daniels County commissioners approved sending a proposal to make county elections nonpartisan to the November ballot and scheduled a town hall to explain the measure.
The Daniels County Board of Commissioners voted March 16 to let county voters decide whether county offices should be nonpartisan.
Joanne Barkco, chair of the Local Government Study Commission, told the board the commission had conducted two surveys and public outreach over the past year and a half. "We feel we got a very clear reading that citizens of Daniels County want nonpartisan elections," she said, presenting survey totals and paper-ballot results. Barkco said computer responses numbered 106 and combined paper and online responses showed roughly 52% in favor, with about a 10% response rate of registered voters.
Commissioners discussed survey size and turnout; some members noted that survey respondents represented a small share of the county’s registered voters and that a general election would yield higher turnout. Several commissioners nevertheless said the critical issue was whether voters should be allowed to decide the matter; one commissioner argued the county should not substitute three officials' judgment for the electorate.
The board approved a resolution (2026-8) allowing the question to be placed on the November ballot. Barkco said the study commission will present a tentative report at a town-hall meeting on April 14 at 6 p.m. at the Nemont Friendship Room and will conduct public education ahead of any ballot placement. If approved by voters, the change would apply in a future election cycle and would not affect filings already closed for the current year.
