The City of Fargo will hold a Special Election on Tuesday, Oct. 6, with voters deciding whether to change Fargo’s form of government from an at-large commission to a ward-based council.
Special Election voting locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 6. Fargo voters can vote at one of three locations:
• FARGODOME – 1800 University Drive N. (Use the main entrance)
• Atonement Lutheran Church – 4601 University Drive S. (Use the west entrance – Door 8)
• Fargo Civic Center – 207 4th St. N. (Use the main entrance)
What’s on the ballot
The Special Election includes one ballot measure that, if approved by voters, would change how Fargo’s government is structured.
The Fargo City Commission currently has five members, including the mayor. The mayor and four commissioners are elected citywide, and each has one equal vote on matters before the commission. Under the proposed council form of government, six council members would be elected from six wards, and a mayor would be elected citywide. The mayor generally would not vote on council matters except to break a tie, but could veto ordinances and resolutions. A veto could be overridden by a two-thirds vote of the council.
For the ballot measure to pass, more than 50% of the votes cast on the question must be in favor of the change.
A sample ballot, the petition that initiated the ballot measure and other election information can be found at FargoND.gov/SpecialElection.
Who can vote
To vote in the election, a person must be at least 18 years old, a United States citizen, a North Dakota resident and a Fargo resident for at least 30 days before the election. North Dakota does not have a formal voter registration process.
What to bring
Voters should bring an accepted form of identification to the polling site. Accepted identification includes a North Dakota driver’s license, a non-driver’s identification card, an ID issued by a tribal government or a long-term care identification certificate.
Absentee voting
While there is no early voting location for this Special Election, absentee voting information can be found at FargoND.gov/SpecialElection.
Voted absentee ballots must be returned to the City of Fargo Auditor’s Office by mail at P.O. Box 2471, Fargo, ND 58108, or by using the secure blue drop box on the west side of Fargo City Hall, 225 4th St. N. Absentee ballots must be received by 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Voted absentee ballots may not be returned to an Election Day voting location.