Constitutional Measure No. 1 - Single Subject Requirement for Constitutional Amendments

BALLOT LANGUAGE

This constitutional measure would amend and reenact section 9 of article III and section 16 of article IV of the Constitution of North Dakota, relating to requiring each resolution adopted by the legislative assembly proposing a constitutional amendment and each initiative petition and measure proposing a constitutional amendment be comprised of a single subject. The proposed amendment is summarized as follows: constitutional amendments would be limited to one subject. The Secretary of State shall not approve an initiative petition for circulation if the Secretary determines that the proposed amendment comprises more than one subject. Additionally, the legislative assembly is required to limit proposed amendments to the constitution to one subject. The estimated fiscal impact of this measure is none. 

WHAT IT MEANS

Yes

A "Yes" vote means that you desire to amend the North Dakota Constitution to specify that proposed constitutional amendments, whether citizen-initiated or legislatively referred, may only be comprised of one subject.

No

A "No" vote means that you desire to keep the current parameters in Section 9 of Article III and in Section 16 of Article IV of the North Dakota Constitution, which allow for constitutional amendments to be comprised of multiple subjects.

ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST

Yes

"The single subject rule helps limit the content and complexity of constitutional amendments by holding the drafter and sponsors to focus on a single subject that is readily understandable by the voters. SCR 4007 would permit the North Dakota Secretary of State to determine whether the proposed measure encompasses more than one subject.” - David Hogue, North Dakota State Senator  

“This is a very simple measure. It’s just saying there needs to be a higher threshold to put things in the constitution. It has nothing to do with initiated (statutory) measures. To me, our constitution should be a somewhat sacred document that shouldn’t be able to be changed, added to or taken away just by a simple majority because the intent is to protect the minority.” - Robin Weisz, North Dakota State Representative  

"It is important for people to know what they’re voting on. Having multiple subjects in one amendment can be misleading and confusing for voters." - Steve Vetter, North Dakota State Representative

No

“They didn’t define what a subject is. They simply gave the Secretary of State unilateral power to determine what a subject is. What happens if I want to eliminate the income tax and cut the sales tax by a penny? Is that one issue – taxes – or is it two issues – income tax and sales tax? We won’t know until the Secretary of State tells us. Luckily, he does have to decide on what his definition of that will be in any given year before people collect signatures.” - Dustin Gawrylow, North Dakota Watchdog Network 

“I think in North Dakota, if we entrust the secretary of state and attorney general of being the sole arbiters of what is and is not a single subject, that’s really going to handcuff voter initiatives in the state.” - Zachary Ista, North Dakota State Representative 

"We’re just afraid that it’s going to be used as a tool against some of the initiated processes that we are using." - Mary Tintes, Vice President, League of Women Voters of North Dakota

ENDORSEMENTS

Yes

David A. Clemens (Conservative)

Dick Anderson (Conservative)

Michelle Axtman (Conservative)

Brad Bekkedahl (Conservative)

Randy A. Burckhard (Conservative)

No

Lori VanWinkle (Conservative)

Eric J. Murphy (Conservative)

League of Women Voters of North Dakota (Liberal)

North Dakota Watchdog Network (Other)

Karen A. Anderson (Conservative)

FINANCIAL BACKING

The following information provides insight into the money being spent to pass or defeat the ballot measure.

Yes

NORTH DAKOTA CONSTITUTIONAL MEASURE 1, SINGLE-SUBJECT REQUIREMENT FOR AMEMNDMENTS MEASURE (2026).

This question is on the ballot in North Dakota as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on June 9, 2026. As of May 20, 2026, no committee to support or oppose the amendment has been identified. Thus, there is no record of funds raised to support either position. 

No

NORTH DAKOTA CONSTITUTIONAL MEASURE 1, SINGLE-SUBJECT REQUIREMENT FOR AMEMNDMENTS MEASURE (2026).

This question is on the ballot in North Dakota as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on June 9, 2026. As of May 20, 2026, no committee to support or oppose the amendment has been identified. Thus, there is no record of funds raised to support either position. 

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