Ward County voters have three ways to cast their ballots in the primary election. Absentee ballots are available online or from the Ward County Auditor’s Office, or voters can either vote early or on election day.

Early voting will take place at the Ward County Administration Building from Monday, June 3, through Friday, June 7, and Monday, June 10, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. each day.

Polls will be open on election day from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

The June 11 polling locations in Ward County have changed somewhat from the previous election. The 2024 locations are the Berthold Senior Center, Burlington City Hall, Kenmare Memorial Hall, Ryder City Hall, Sawyer City Hall, Surrey City Hall, Minot Municipal Auditorium-Armory, State Fair Center and Ward County Administration Building.

Photo by Jill Schramm/MDN Republican U.S. House candidate Rick Becker speaks at a Sons of Liberty event at a Minot restaurant May 13 that also featured Alexander Balazs, another Republican U.S. House candidate, center.

A form of North Dakota identification that includes name, address and date of birth is required for voting. Suitable IDs include a North Dakota driver’s license, North Dakota non-driver’s identification card, tribal government-issued identification card or long-term care identification certificate, provided by a North Dakota facility.

If unable to update an outdated ID, a supplemental document listing a new address can be provided. Acceptable documents include a current utility bill, a current bank statement, a check issued by a federal, state, local or tribal government, or a paycheck.

Three seats will need to be filed on the Ward County Commission in this year’s election.

Shelly Weppler, a current Ward County commissioner and president of Inspiritus Community Health Foundation in Minot, has filed for reelection. Jedidiah Rader, who lists a Ryder address, also has filed.

Launching write-in campaigns are Miranda Schuler, an insurance agent and former member of Minot City Council and Minot School Board; Zach Raknerud, sales manager for a distribution company; Ron Merritt, former director for Minot Parks and now employed with a Minot credit union; and Jim Rostad, a current county commissioner who did not file to run again. Rostad, who had hoped to see others run, started a write-in campaign for the commission after only two people filed.

All six candidates potentially could advance to the fall ballot if each of the write-in candidates receives at least 300 votes. Voters would need to not only write the candidate’s first and last name in the ballot space but also fill in the oval next to that name.

The primary election ballot will only determine which candidates advance to the general election. Voters can vote in either the Republican or Democratic-NPL columns but not both.

Republican candidates who face no primary opposition are: U.S. Senate. Kevin Cramer; District 4 Senate, Chuck Walen; District 38 Senate, David Hogue; District 40 Senate, Jose Castaneda; District 40 House, Matthew Ruby and Macy Bolinske; District 4a House, Ronald Brugh; District 4b House, Clayton Fegley; State Auditor, Joshua Gallion; State Treasurer, Thomas Beadle; Insurance Commissioner, Jon Godfread; and Public Service Commissioner, Randy Christmann.

Democratic-NPL candidates who face no primary opposition are: U.S. Senate, Katrina Christiansen; District 38 House, Lisa Hermosillo; District 40 House, Alexandra Deufel; District 4a House, Lisa Finley-DeVille; Governor and Lt. Governor, Merrill Piepkorn and Patrick Hart; State Auditor, Timothy Lamb; and Public Service Commissioner, Tracey Wilkie.

All voters can vote in the no-party primary categories. In addition to the county commission, two judgeships in North Central District Court are on the no-party ballot. Richard Hagar is seeking reelection to Judgeship 3, and Stacy Louser is seeking reelection to Judgeship 4.

Ward County cities also will be electing city and park board members, by write-in in some cases. The ballot for voters in the following communities includes:

Berthold

– Unexpired two-year council term, Randy Kunz.

– Council, two terms, Cindy DeBilt and Troy Enga.

– Park Board, unexpired two-year term, no filings.

– Park Board, three terms, no filings.

Burlington

– Mayor, Jack Anderson and Zach Walker.

– Council, two terms, Jarrod Nelson and Kelsey Flick.

– Municipal Judge, Codie Miller.

Carpio

– Mayor, Austin Burkett.

– Council, two terms, Kelvin Faul.

– Park Board, two terms, Jay Kurtz and Randy Bryans.

Des Lacs

– Council, two terms, Alton Nygaard and Brandon Quam.

Donnybrook

– Council, two terms, Larry Goettle and Nick Wooster.

Douglas

– Mayor, no filings.

– Council, two terms, no filings.

– Council, unexpired two-year term, no filings.

Kenmare

– Council, three terms, Miles Mibeck, James Burud and Timothy Heid.

– Council, unexpired two-year term, no filings.

– Municipal Judge, William Jansky.

– Park Board, two terms, Jane Kalmbach and Rachel Wiedmer.

– Park Board, unexpired two-year term, no filings.

Makoti

– Council, two terms, Ashley Sanborn, Christopher Huus and Mike Larson.

– Council, unexpired two-year term, Bernadean Howell.

– Park Board, two terms, Ralph Butterfield and Laura Fransen.

Ryder

– Mayor, Jody Reinisch.

– Council, two terms, Merle Dreher and Rick Sherven.

– Council, unexpired two-year term, no filings.

– Park Board, three terms, Peggy Reinisch and Patricia Ouellette.

Sawyer

– Mayor, Wayne Flores.

– Council, two terms, Tom Kempf, Donald Yancey and Susan Schmidt.

Surrey

– Council, Ward 2, two terms, Brent Dickinson and Twila Gantzer.

– Council, Ward 1, one term, Steve Fennewald.

– Park Board, three terms, no filings.

– Park Board, unexpired two-year term, no filings.

Voters in Minot and Des Lacs also will vote on publication of city meeting minutes in the newspaper of record.

School elections

– Berthold, June 4, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Berthold and North Shore/Plaza Schools; at-large, one term, Denver Deaver has filed; Old North Shore/Plaza, two terms, Shane Erickson and Robert Blunck have filed.

– Nedrose, June 11, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Nedrose High School; two terms, Chris Sutton and Sarah Boucher have filed.

– Sawyer, June 11, 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Sawyer City Hall; two terms, Seth Berman has filed.

– South Prairie, June 11, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., South Prairie School, high school commons; Afton Township term, Chad Mosser, and Gasman Township term, Curt Olson and Mark McMillan.

– Surrey, June 11, 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Surrey City Hall; one seat, Lee Atterton has filed.

– United, June 11, 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Burlington and Des Lacs schools; one at-large term, Brenda Buri has filed.