No Kings rallies in North Dakota emphasize early voting

Hundreds rallied across North Dakota on Saturday to encourage early voting in the Nov. 3 election, joining similar No Kings events across the country.

Fargo and Bismarck rallies, each with a few hundred attendees, featured tables with information about how and when people can vote. 

Fargo event organizer Lyn Dockter-Pinnick said the group Red Red United Indivisible is working to promote the largest early vote turnout in history. 

“Vote early, that’s what we’re about today,” she said.

Zeely Rush of Hazen, who attended the Bismarck event, already cast her absentee ballot by dropping it off at her county auditor’s office.

“Better to be safe than sorry,” Rush said. She added she didn’t want to worry about any potential problems at the post office to make sure her ballot is counted.

Several people in the crowd at Fargo City Hall raised their hands when an organizer asked who had already voted. More than 21,900 North Dakotans have voted through absentee or mail-in ballots so far. Seven counties also have early, in-person voting.

For Steve Heiland of Fargo and Susan Stockert of Bismarck, two ballot measures in North Dakota are the biggest election issues this year. 

One statewide ballot measure would require 60% voter approval to change the North Dakota Constitution and the other would require schools to provide free school meals to K-12 students.

Stockert, a middle school teacher attending the event in Bismarck, added a local school bond ballot measure as a motivator for voting. 

John Trelstad of Fargo said he has changed his thinking on Measure 1. He said he originally agreed with supporters who argue the 60% helps protect North Dakota’s constitution from being overly influenced by out-of-state interests. 

But he said he has decided that he can’t let fewer than 50% of voters prevail. 

“It’s the reverse of a majority vote,” Trelstad said. “I can’t abide by that on any issue.” 

Darcy Olson of Bismarck brought a sign to the protest at the Capitol that read, “Vote early, vote blue and bring two friends.” Olson said he plans to vote early in-person voting at the Bismarck Event Center, which begins Thursday.

“I gotta vote to be able to hold this administration accountable for all the things it’s doing that is outside of the law, outside of the Constitution and outside of decency,” Olson said. 

Arlan Steinolfson of Fargo said he may vote early after learning he may be able to get a ride to the polls through a volunteer group. 

Steinolfson said he has always been a voter and at times has voted for Republican candidates, but he said that won’t happen this year. 

One of the reasons people are going to vote during this election is gas prices, said Kris Mount of Bismarck, who attended the protest holding a sign listing the area diesel price of $6.19 per gallon.

“We were promised lower prices. We were promised lower gas. We were promised no wars and we have none of that,” Mount said.

Grand Forks, Devils Lake, Valley City, Dickinson and Jamestown also held events.

The No Kings rally in Jamestown featured about 80 people with pro-voting signs, said Bob Boyar of Jamestown.

After a short march, participants received information from organizers about ways to vote in Stutsman County, he said.

“It’s important that we’re able to disagree with each other and do it in a way that is life-building instead of destructive,” Boyar said.