Constitutional Measure 1: 60% Vote Required to Approve Constitutional Amendments (HCR 3003)
Statewide — all of North Dakota
General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- The 2025 Legislative Assembly placed this measure on the ballot with House Concurrent Resolution 3003 (2025 Session Laws, Chapter 614), sponsored by Rep. Robin Weisz, R-Hurdsfield. It passed the House 65-28 (Jan. 29, 2025) and the Senate 33-13 (Apr. 9, 2025), according to the Legislature's bill actions.[2][4][5]
- North Dakota voters rejected a different 2024 measure (Measure 2) that would have changed the constitutional ballot measure process, according to the League of Women Voters of North Dakota as quoted by North Dakota Monitor.[4]
The question on the ballot
This constitutional measure would amend and reenact section 9 of article III and section 16 of article IV of the Constitution of North Dakota. The proposed amendment would require constitutional amendments submitted to the electors, by resolution adopted by the legislative assembly proposing a constitutional amendment and each initiative petition and measure proposing a constitutional amendment, to receive an affirmative vote of at least sixty percent of those voting on the question for enactment. The estimated fiscal impact of this measure is none.[1]
The measure would raise the vote needed to adopt a constitutional amendment from a simple majority to at least 60% of those voting on the question. It applies to amendments placed on the ballot by the Legislature and to initiated constitutional measures, not to initiated statutes. The official analysis states the estimated fiscal impact is none.[1][2][3]
A YES vote means
Voting “YES” means you approve the measure: constitutional amendments, whether referred by the Legislature or initiated by petition, would need at least 60% of those voting on the question to be adopted.
A NO vote means
Voting “NO” means you reject the measure: constitutional amendments would continue to require a simple majority.
The law today
Constitutional measures currently need "YES" votes equal greater than 50 percent to change the North Dakota Constitution; the measure would require at least 60 percent.[6]
Official fiscal estimate
The Secretary of State's official analysis states: "The estimated fiscal impact of this measure is none."[2]
Arguments made for
- Rep. Steve Vetter, R-Grand Forks, told lawmakers: “All this bill does is raise the threshold slightly for amending the constitution so the minority has some protection in North Dakota.”[3]
- Sen. Jeff Barta, R-Grand Forks, said in 2025: “It’s quite likely that we all agree that it should be possible to change our state’s foundational document, however it should be more difficult than it currently is.”[4]
Arguments made against
- Kathy Tweeten, president of the League of Women Voters of North Dakota, said: “What this does, in my mind, is to give the power to a super minority.”[3]
- House Minority Leader Zac Ista, D-Grand Forks, said of the amendment process: “It’s a way for North Dakota voters to make changes that we, as legislators, have failed to make, or refused to make.”[3]
On record in support
On record in opposition
Campaign money
As of campaign finance reports filed with the Secretary of State and reported Oct. 8, 2026: StrongND Fund, which supports Measure 1, had spent $978,000; Protect the North Dakota Constitution, which opposes it, had reported more than $1.2 million in donations, nearly all of it (except $100,000) from the Fairness Project; the Fairness Project had spent more than $1.12 million against Measure 1. StrongND's treasurer says its donors are not required to be disclosed.[7]
Research notes & limits
North Dakota publishes no voter pamphlet with pro/con arguments; arguments are quotes from named legislators and the League of Women Voters of North Dakota as reported by North Dakota Monitor. Question text, yes/no wording and fiscal statement are the Secretary of State's official ballot language. North Dakota Monitor attributes the rejected 2024 measure to 'last November' in an April 2025 article; it is the 2024 Measure 2. The Secretary of State's page numbers this measure Constitutional Measure 1; an earlier June 2026 Measure 1 (single-subject requirement) was decided at the June primary and is not on the Nov. 3 ballot. Fundraising figures are from North Dakota Monitor's Oct. 8, 2026 analysis of filings and may be out of date.
Sources · 7
Researched 2026-10-19. Green citations are official government records.
- 1.Official Ballot Language for Measures Appearing on the Ballot, November 3, 2026 (Constitutional Measure 1) · North Dakota Secretary of State Official record
- 2.Analyses of the Statewide Measures Appearing on the Election Ballot, November 3, 2026 (Constitutional Measure 1) · North Dakota Secretary of State Official record
- 3.Sponsor, opponent debate need for North Dakota ballot measure to change constitution · North Dakota Monitor · 2026-09-22 News report
- 4.Resolution raising constitutional ballot measure threshold to 60% passes North Dakota Senate · North Dakota Monitor · 2025-04-09 News report
- 5.HCR 3003 - Actions (69th Legislative Assembly) · North Dakota Legislative Assembly · 2026-10-19 Official record
- 6.North Dakota Statewide Ballot Measure Information, 2026 General Election · North Dakota Secretary of State Official record
- 7.North Dakota measure campaigns pull in large group donations · North Dakota Monitor · 2026-10-08 News report