BISMARCK, N.D. (KFGO PRAIRIE PUBLIC RADIO) – A West Fargo lawmaker wants to prohibit “approval voting” in North Dakota.
Fargo is the only city with that voting method. A voter can cast ballots for as many candidates as he or she wants – and the candidate with the most votes wins.
Republican Representative Ben Koppelman – the bill’s sponsor – testified before the House Political Subdivisions Committee. He said this type of voting dilutes the value of the “one man-one vote” and the ability of each voter to cast a single vote for a single office and it should be banned.
Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney spoke against the bill. He told the Committee approval voting does not dilute a person’s vote. And he says Fargo overwhelmingly adopted approval voting by initiated measure.
The bill is HB 1273. The Committee did not take immediate action.
