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CHAPTER 16.1-12CERTIFICATES OF NOMINATION - VACANCIES16.1-12-01.Certificate of nomination - Party and independent.A certificate ofnomination must be either:1.The certificate of nomination required to be executed by the state or a county<br>canvassing board pursuant to sections 16.1-15-40 and 16.1-15-21, respectively, for<br>party nominations.2.The certificate of nomination by petition for independent nominations provided for by<br>this chapter.16.1-12-02. Certificates of nomination by petition - Form and contents. Certificatesof nomination for nominees for an office to be filled at a general or special election, except for an<br>office appearing on the no-party ballot, may be made as provided by this section. Except for<br>nominees for president of the United States, names of nominees so nominated must appear on<br>the ballot as independent nominations.The names of nominees for president of the UnitedStates may appear on the ballot with a designation, not to exceed five words, that names the<br>organization or political party to which the presidential candidate affiliates. The designation may<br>not falsely indicate an affiliation with or the support of any political party organized in accordance<br>with this title or include any substantive word or phrase that is profane or that is already included<br>in or resembles the name of a political party entitled to a separate column under section<br>16.1-11-30. Except for candidates for the office of president of the United States, each certificate<br>of nomination by petition must meet the specifications for nominating petitions set forth in section<br>16.1-11-16. A candidate for the office of the president of the United States may begin gathering<br>the signatures for the certificate of nomination on the first day of January of a presidential<br>election year and shall submit the petition to the secretary of state before four p.m. on the sixtieth<br>day before the general election. The signatures on the petition must be in the following number:1.Except as provided in subsection 3, if the nomination is for an office to be filled by<br>the qualified electors of the entire state, there must be no fewer than one thousand<br>signatures.2.If the nomination is for an office to be filled by the qualified electors of a district less<br>than the entire state, the number of signatures must be at least two percent of the<br>resident population of the district as determined by the most recent federal decennial<br>census, but in no case may more than three hundred signatures be required.3.If the nomination is for the office of president, there must be no fewer than four<br>thousand signatures.4.If the petition is for the office of governor or lieutenant governor, it must contain the<br>names and other required information of candidates for both those offices.16.1-12-02.1.Applicant's name placed upon ballot - Affidavit to accompanypetition. Upon receipt by the secretary of state of the certificate of nomination provided for in<br>section 16.1-12-02 accompanied by the following affidavit, the secretary of state shall place the<br>applicant's name upon the general election ballot. The affidavit must be substantially as follows:State of North Dakota)<br>) ss.County of ________)I, ______________, being sworn, say that I reside at ______________, in the city of__________________, state of North Dakota; that I am a candidate for nomination to the<br>office of _________________ to be chosen at the general election to be held on<br>_____________, ____, and I request that my name be printed upon the general election<br>ballot as I have identified my ballot name below.I understand that nicknames arePage No. 1allowed as part of my ballot name, but titles and campaign slogans are not permissible. I<br>have reviewed the requirements to hold office and I certify that I am qualified to serve if<br>elected._______________________________________<br>Ballot name requestedDate _____________________________________________________<br>Candidate's signatureSubscribed and sworn to before me on ______________, ______._______________________________________<br>Notary Public<br>My Commission Expires ____________________NOTARY SEAL16.1-12-02.2.Counting of write-in votes - Certificate of candidacy by write-incandidates.1.An election board or canvassing board may not count or be required to officially<br>report any write-in vote for any:a.Individual who is required to file a certificate of write-in candidacy under this<br>section but who has not filed a certificate of candidacy and been certified as a<br>write-in candidate.b.Fictitious person or individual clearly not eligible to qualify for the office for<br>which the vote was cast.c.Statement concerning the candidates.d.Name written or printed by the voter for an office that did not also include the<br>darkening of the oval next to the write-in line, except that a write-in candidate<br>for a nonfederal office may make a timely written demand to a county<br>canvassing board to identify and preserve any write-in vote cast for the office<br>sought by the write-in candidate for canvass by the board. The candidate shall<br>deliver the demand to the county auditor and a copy to the county recorder no<br>later than thirty-six hours before the time the county canvassing board is<br>scheduled to meet.A demand only may be made if the unofficial electionresults maintained by the county auditor demonstrate that the write-in<br>candidate's known vote total is within the pertinent percentage limits provided in<br>subsection 1 or 2 of section 16.1-16-01 and a statement to that effect is<br>included in the demand. After delivery of the ballots as provided by section<br>16.1-15-08, the canvassing board shall review the ballots to identify any ballot<br>that contains a write-in vote.The county canvassing board shall tally andcanvass any write-in vote in the same manner as lawful or qualifying write-in<br>votes if the canvassing board is able to clearly ascertain the intent of the voter<br>from examining the ballot because the write-in candidate's name has been<br>written on the ballot opposite the office to be voted for or because of any other<br>cogent evidence of intent.e.Write-in votes which constitute five percent or less of the votes cast by the<br>voters for the candidate receiving the most votes for that office, except in the<br>case of a primary election in which enough votes were cast as write-in votes to<br>qualify a name for the general election ballot.This percentage is to becalculated based on the total number of write-in votes tabulated by the voting<br>equipment in the precincts of the county in which that office was on the ballot.f.Write-in votes that do not need to be individually canvassed based on the<br>requirements of this subsection must be listed on the official canvass report as<br>&quot;scattered write-ins&quot;.Page No. 22.An individual who intends to be a write-in candidate for president of the United<br>States or for statewide or judicial district office at any election shall file a certificate of<br>write-in candidacy with the secretary of state by four p.m. on the twenty-first day<br>before the election.The certificate must contain the name and address of thecandidate and be signed by the candidate. Before the thirteenth day before the<br>election, the secretary of state shall certify the names of the candidates to each<br>county auditor as write-in candidates.3.An individual who intends to be a write-in candidate at the general election for<br>president of the United States shall file a certificate of write-in candidacy with the<br>secretary of state by four p.m. on the twenty-first day before the general election.<br>The certificate must contain the names and addresses of the candidates for<br>presidential electors for that presidential candidate and a certification of acceptance<br>signed by each candidate for elector. The candidate shall sign the certificate. The<br>certificate may also include the name and address of a candidate for vice president<br>of the United States and a certification of acceptance signed by that candidate. The<br>secretary of state shall prescribe the form of the certificate of write-in candidacy and<br>the certification of acceptance. Before the thirteenth day before the election, the<br>secretary of state shall certify the names of the presidential candidates and the<br>presidential electors to each county auditor as write-in candidates.4.An individual who intends to be a write-in candidate for any legislative district office<br>shall file a certificate of write-in candidacy with the election officer with whom the<br>candidate would otherwise file to have the candidate's name placed on the ballot.<br>The certificate must contain the name, address, and signature of the candidate.<br>Certificates must be filed by four p.m. on the fourth day before the election. When<br>the candidate files a certificate, the candidate also shall file the contribution<br>statement provided for under section 16.1-08.1-02 complete through the day of the<br>filing of the certificate.5.A certificate under this section is not required when:a.No names will appear on the ballot for an office;b.The number of candidates appearing on the ballot for an office is less than the<br>number to be elected; orc.The number of candidates appearing on the ballot for a party office is less than<br>the number of nominations a party is entitled to make.6.An individual required to file a certificate of write-in candidacy may not seek more<br>than one office appearing on the primary and general election ballots.16.1-12-02.3. Nominating petition for an independent candidate not to be circulatedmore than one hundred fifty days before filing time. A petition provided for in this chapter<br>may not be circulated or signed more than one hundred fifty days before the date when any<br>petition must be filed under this chapter. Any signatures to a petition obtained more than one<br>hundred fifty days before that date may not be counted.16.1-12-03.Certificate of nomination to contain only one name - Person toparticipate in only one nomination - Exception. No certificate of nomination provided for by<br>this chapter, except in the case of presidential electors, may contain the name of more than one<br>nominee for each office to be filled. A person elected or appointed to an office appearing on the<br>no-party ballot or seeking nomination and election to a no-party office may also seek nomination<br>to legislative office and may serve in the legislative assembly, unless the no-party office is the<br>office of district court judge, or a statewide elective office. Except as may be permitted in this<br>section, no person may participate directly or indirectly in the nomination of more than one<br>person for each office to be filled on the general election ballot, except a person may sign a<br>certificate of nomination by petition for more than one person for each office, and no person mayPage No. 3accept a nomination to more than one office on the general election ballot. No political party is<br>entitled to more than one set of nominees on the official general election ballot.16.1-12-04. Certificates of nomination - Time and place of filing.1.Certificates of nomination for nominees for offices to be filled by the qualified<br>electors of the entire state must be filed with the secretary of state. Not less than<br>fifty-five days before any general or special election to fill any statewide office, the<br>secretary of state shall certify to each county auditor the names and addresses of<br>the persons nominated for statewide office according to this chapter as shown on<br>the certificates of nomination filed in the secretary of state's office.2.Certificates of nomination for nominees for county offices and legislative offices must<br>be filed with the county auditor of the county in which the candidate resides. The<br>county auditor shall certify the names and addresses of legislative candidates filing<br>certificates of nomination according to this chapter to the secretary of state. When a<br>legislative district is composed of more than one county, the county auditor shall<br>certify to the county auditors of the other counties comprising the legislative district<br>the names and addresses of the candidates filing certificates of nomination.3.Certificates of nomination must, without regard to the means of delivery, be filed and<br>in the actual possession of the appropriate officer not later than four p.m. on the<br>sixtieth day prior to the day of election.4.The secretary of state and the county auditors shall keep on file for six months all<br>certificates of nomination filed with them under this chapter and all certificates of<br>nomination must be open to public inspection during regular business hours.16.1-12-05. Secretary of state to certify nominations to county auditor - Duty ofcounty auditor. Repealed by S.L. 1997, ch. 200, <meta property="og:url" content="https://statutes.laws.com/test/" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Statutes" /> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2019-12-27T23:25:16+00:00" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <h2>State Codes and Statutes</h2> <a href='https://statutes.laws.com/'>Statutes</a> > <a href='https://statutes.laws.com/north-dakota'>North-dakota</a> > <a href='https://statutes.laws.com/north-dakota/t161'>T161</a> > <a href='https://statutes.laws.com/north-dakota/t161/t161c12'>T161c12</a><br><br><a href="https://law.justia.com/codes/north-dakota/2009/t161/pdf/t161c12.pdf">Download pdf</a><br><div id="embed_document" style="width:625px; height:815px; text-align:center;">Loading PDF...</div><script type="text/javascript"> var pdf_url = 'https://law.justia.com/codes/north-dakota/2009/t161/pdf/t161c12.pdf'; $(document).ready(function() { var embedwindow = $("#embed_document"); if ($.browser.msie){ embedwindow.html('<embed src="'+pdf_url+'" width="100%" height="100%"></embed>'); } else { embedwindow.html('<iframe style="width:100%; height:100%;" src="https://docs.google.com/gview?url='+window.escape(pdf_url)+'&embedded=true" frameborder="0"></iframe>'); } });</script><br><br><noframes>CHAPTER 16.1-12CERTIFICATES OF NOMINATION - VACANCIES16.1-12-01.Certificate of nomination - Party and independent.A certificate ofnomination must be either:1.The certificate of nomination required to be executed by the state or a county<br>canvassing board pursuant to sections 16.1-15-40 and 16.1-15-21, respectively, for<br>party nominations.2.The certificate of nomination by petition for independent nominations provided for by<br>this chapter.16.1-12-02. Certificates of nomination by petition - Form and contents. Certificatesof nomination for nominees for an office to be filled at a general or special election, except for an<br>office appearing on the no-party ballot, may be made as provided by this section. Except for<br>nominees for president of the United States, names of nominees so nominated must appear on<br>the ballot as independent nominations.The names of nominees for president of the UnitedStates may appear on the ballot with a designation, not to exceed five words, that names the<br>organization or political party to which the presidential candidate affiliates. The designation may<br>not falsely indicate an affiliation with or the support of any political party organized in accordance<br>with this title or include any substantive word or phrase that is profane or that is already included<br>in or resembles the name of a political party entitled to a separate column under section<br>16.1-11-30. Except for candidates for the office of president of the United States, each certificate<br>of nomination by petition must meet the specifications for nominating petitions set forth in section<br>16.1-11-16. A candidate for the office of the president of the United States may begin gathering<br>the signatures for the certificate of nomination on the first day of January of a presidential<br>election year and shall submit the petition to the secretary of state before four p.m. on the sixtieth<br>day before the general election. The signatures on the petition must be in the following number:1.Except as provided in subsection 3, if the nomination is for an office to be filled by<br>the qualified electors of the entire state, there must be no fewer than one thousand<br>signatures.2.If the nomination is for an office to be filled by the qualified electors of a district less<br>than the entire state, the number of signatures must be at least two percent of the<br>resident population of the district as determined by the most recent federal decennial<br>census, but in no case may more than three hundred signatures be required.3.If the nomination is for the office of president, there must be no fewer than four<br>thousand signatures.4.If the petition is for the office of governor or lieutenant governor, it must contain the<br>names and other required information of candidates for both those offices.16.1-12-02.1.Applicant's name placed upon ballot - Affidavit to accompanypetition. Upon receipt by the secretary of state of the certificate of nomination provided for in<br>section 16.1-12-02 accompanied by the following affidavit, the secretary of state shall place the<br>applicant's name upon the general election ballot. The affidavit must be substantially as follows:State of North Dakota)<br>) ss.County of ________)I, ______________, being sworn, say that I reside at ______________, in the city of__________________, state of North Dakota; that I am a candidate for nomination to the<br>office of _________________ to be chosen at the general election to be held on<br>_____________, ____, and I request that my name be printed upon the general election<br>ballot as I have identified my ballot name below.I understand that nicknames arePage No. 1allowed as part of my ballot name, but titles and campaign slogans are not permissible. I<br>have reviewed the requirements to hold office and I certify that I am qualified to serve if<br>elected._______________________________________<br>Ballot name requestedDate _____________________________________________________<br>Candidate's signatureSubscribed and sworn to before me on ______________, ______._______________________________________<br>Notary Public<br>My Commission Expires ____________________NOTARY SEAL16.1-12-02.2.Counting of write-in votes - Certificate of candidacy by write-incandidates.1.An election board or canvassing board may not count or be required to officially<br>report any write-in vote for any:a.Individual who is required to file a certificate of write-in candidacy under this<br>section but who has not filed a certificate of candidacy and been certified as a<br>write-in candidate.b.Fictitious person or individual clearly not eligible to qualify for the office for<br>which the vote was cast.c.Statement concerning the candidates.d.Name written or printed by the voter for an office that did not also include the<br>darkening of the oval next to the write-in line, except that a write-in candidate<br>for a nonfederal office may make a timely written demand to a county<br>canvassing board to identify and preserve any write-in vote cast for the office<br>sought by the write-in candidate for canvass by the board. The candidate shall<br>deliver the demand to the county auditor and a copy to the county recorder no<br>later than thirty-six hours before the time the county canvassing board is<br>scheduled to meet.A demand only may be made if the unofficial electionresults maintained by the county auditor demonstrate that the write-in<br>candidate's known vote total is within the pertinent percentage limits provided in<br>subsection 1 or 2 of section 16.1-16-01 and a statement to that effect is<br>included in the demand. After delivery of the ballots as provided by section<br>16.1-15-08, the canvassing board shall review the ballots to identify any ballot<br>that contains a write-in vote.The county canvassing board shall tally andcanvass any write-in vote in the same manner as lawful or qualifying write-in<br>votes if the canvassing board is able to clearly ascertain the intent of the voter<br>from examining the ballot because the write-in candidate's name has been<br>written on the ballot opposite the office to be voted for or because of any other<br>cogent evidence of intent.e.Write-in votes which constitute five percent or less of the votes cast by the<br>voters for the candidate receiving the most votes for that office, except in the<br>case of a primary election in which enough votes were cast as write-in votes to<br>qualify a name for the general election ballot.This percentage is to becalculated based on the total number of write-in votes tabulated by the voting<br>equipment in the precincts of the county in which that office was on the ballot.f.Write-in votes that do not need to be individually canvassed based on the<br>requirements of this subsection must be listed on the official canvass report as<br>&quot;scattered write-ins&quot;.Page No. 22.An individual who intends to be a write-in candidate for president of the United<br>States or for statewide or judicial district office at any election shall file a certificate of<br>write-in candidacy with the secretary of state by four p.m. on the twenty-first day<br>before the election.The certificate must contain the name and address of thecandidate and be signed by the candidate. Before the thirteenth day before the<br>election, the secretary of state shall certify the names of the candidates to each<br>county auditor as write-in candidates.3.An individual who intends to be a write-in candidate at the general election for<br>president of the United States shall file a certificate of write-in candidacy with the<br>secretary of state by four p.m. on the twenty-first day before the general election.<br>The certificate must contain the names and addresses of the candidates for<br>presidential electors for that presidential candidate and a certification of acceptance<br>signed by each candidate for elector. The candidate shall sign the certificate. The<br>certificate may also include the name and address of a candidate for vice president<br>of the United States and a certification of acceptance signed by that candidate. The<br>secretary of state shall prescribe the form of the certificate of write-in candidacy and<br>the certification of acceptance. Before the thirteenth day before the election, the<br>secretary of state shall certify the names of the presidential candidates and the<br>presidential electors to each county auditor as write-in candidates.4.An individual who intends to be a write-in candidate for any legislative district office<br>shall file a certificate of write-in candidacy with the election officer with whom the<br>candidate would otherwise file to have the candidate's name placed on the ballot.<br>The certificate must contain the name, address, and signature of the candidate.<br>Certificates must be filed by four p.m. on the fourth day before the election. When<br>the candidate files a certificate, the candidate also shall file the contribution<br>statement provided for under section 16.1-08.1-02 complete through the day of the<br>filing of the certificate.5.A certificate under this section is not required when:a.No names will appear on the ballot for an office;b.The number of candidates appearing on the ballot for an office is less than the<br>number to be elected; orc.The number of candidates appearing on the ballot for a party office is less than<br>the number of nominations a party is entitled to make.6.An individual required to file a certificate of write-in candidacy may not seek more<br>than one office appearing on the primary and general election ballots.16.1-12-02.3. Nominating petition for an independent candidate not to be circulatedmore than one hundred fifty days before filing time. A petition provided for in this chapter<br>may not be circulated or signed more than one hundred fifty days before the date when any<br>petition must be filed under this chapter. Any signatures to a petition obtained more than one<br>hundred fifty days before that date may not be counted.16.1-12-03.Certificate of nomination to contain only one name - Person toparticipate in only one nomination - Exception. No certificate of nomination provided for by<br>this chapter, except in the case of presidential electors, may contain the name of more than one<br>nominee for each office to be filled. A person elected or appointed to an office appearing on the<br>no-party ballot or seeking nomination and election to a no-party office may also seek nomination<br>to legislative office and may serve in the legislative assembly, unless the no-party office is the<br>office of district court judge, or a statewide elective office. Except as may be permitted in this<br>section, no person may participate directly or indirectly in the nomination of more than one<br>person for each office to be filled on the general election ballot, except a person may sign a<br>certificate of nomination by petition for more than one person for each office, and no person mayPage No. 3accept a nomination to more than one office on the general election ballot. No political party is<br>entitled to more than one set of nominees on the official general election ballot.16.1-12-04. Certificates of nomination - Time and place of filing.1.Certificates of nomination for nominees for offices to be filled by the qualified<br>electors of the entire state must be filed with the secretary of state. Not less than<br>fifty-five days before any general or special election to fill any statewide office, the<br>secretary of state shall certify to each county auditor the names and addresses of<br>the persons nominated for statewide office according to this chapter as shown on<br>the certificates of nomination filed in the secretary of state's office.2.Certificates of nomination for nominees for county offices and legislative offices must<br>be filed with the county auditor of the county in which the candidate resides. The<br>county auditor shall certify the names and addresses of legislative candidates filing<br>certificates of nomination according to this chapter to the secretary of state. When a<br>legislative district is composed of more than one county, the county auditor shall<br>certify to the county auditors of the other counties comprising the legislative district<br>the names and addresses of the candidates filing certificates of nomination.3.Certificates of nomination must, without regard to the means of delivery, be filed and<br>in the actual possession of the appropriate officer not later than four p.m. on the<br>sixtieth day prior to the day of election.4.The secretary of state and the county auditors shall keep on file for six months all<br>certificates of nomination filed with them under this chapter and all certificates of<br>nomination must be open to public inspection during regular business hours.16.1-12-05. Secretary of state to certify nominations to county auditor - Duty ofcounty auditor. 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class="shortcode-content"> <h2>State Codes and Statutes</h2> <a href='https://statutes.laws.com/'>Statutes</a> > <a href='https://statutes.laws.com/north-dakota'>North-dakota</a> > <a href='https://statutes.laws.com/north-dakota/t161'>T161</a> > <a href='https://statutes.laws.com/north-dakota/t161/t161c12'>T161c12</a><br><br><a href="https://law.justia.com/codes/north-dakota/2009/t161/pdf/t161c12.pdf">Download pdf</a><br><div id="embed_document" style="width:625px; height:815px; text-align:center;">Loading PDF...</div><script type="text/javascript"> var pdf_url = 'https://law.justia.com/codes/north-dakota/2009/t161/pdf/t161c12.pdf'; $(document).ready(function() { var embedwindow = $("#embed_document"); if ($.browser.msie){ embedwindow.html('<embed src="'+pdf_url+'" width="100%" height="100%"></embed>'); } else { embedwindow.html('<iframe style="width:100%; height:100%;" src="https://docs.google.com/gview?url='+window.escape(pdf_url)+'&embedded=true" frameborder="0"></iframe>'); } });</script><br><br><noframes>CHAPTER 16.1-12CERTIFICATES OF NOMINATION - VACANCIES16.1-12-01.Certificate of nomination - Party and independent.A certificate ofnomination must be either:1.The certificate of nomination required to be executed by the state or a county<br>canvassing board pursuant to sections 16.1-15-40 and 16.1-15-21, respectively, for<br>party nominations.2.The certificate of nomination by petition for independent nominations provided for by<br>this chapter.16.1-12-02. Certificates of nomination by petition - Form and contents. Certificatesof nomination for nominees for an office to be filled at a general or special election, except for an<br>office appearing on the no-party ballot, may be made as provided by this section. Except for<br>nominees for president of the United States, names of nominees so nominated must appear on<br>the ballot as independent nominations.The names of nominees for president of the UnitedStates may appear on the ballot with a designation, not to exceed five words, that names the<br>organization or political party to which the presidential candidate affiliates. The designation may<br>not falsely indicate an affiliation with or the support of any political party organized in accordance<br>with this title or include any substantive word or phrase that is profane or that is already included<br>in or resembles the name of a political party entitled to a separate column under section<br>16.1-11-30. Except for candidates for the office of president of the United States, each certificate<br>of nomination by petition must meet the specifications for nominating petitions set forth in section<br>16.1-11-16. A candidate for the office of the president of the United States may begin gathering<br>the signatures for the certificate of nomination on the first day of January of a presidential<br>election year and shall submit the petition to the secretary of state before four p.m. on the sixtieth<br>day before the general election. The signatures on the petition must be in the following number:1.Except as provided in subsection 3, if the nomination is for an office to be filled by<br>the qualified electors of the entire state, there must be no fewer than one thousand<br>signatures.2.If the nomination is for an office to be filled by the qualified electors of a district less<br>than the entire state, the number of signatures must be at least two percent of the<br>resident population of the district as determined by the most recent federal decennial<br>census, but in no case may more than three hundred signatures be required.3.If the nomination is for the office of president, there must be no fewer than four<br>thousand signatures.4.If the petition is for the office of governor or lieutenant governor, it must contain the<br>names and other required information of candidates for both those offices.16.1-12-02.1.Applicant's name placed upon ballot - Affidavit to accompanypetition. Upon receipt by the secretary of state of the certificate of nomination provided for in<br>section 16.1-12-02 accompanied by the following affidavit, the secretary of state shall place the<br>applicant's name upon the general election ballot. The affidavit must be substantially as follows:State of North Dakota)<br>) ss.County of ________)I, ______________, being sworn, say that I reside at ______________, in the city of__________________, state of North Dakota; that I am a candidate for nomination to the<br>office of _________________ to be chosen at the general election to be held on<br>_____________, ____, and I request that my name be printed upon the general election<br>ballot as I have identified my ballot name below.I understand that nicknames arePage No. 1allowed as part of my ballot name, but titles and campaign slogans are not permissible. I<br>have reviewed the requirements to hold office and I certify that I am qualified to serve if<br>elected._______________________________________<br>Ballot name requestedDate _____________________________________________________<br>Candidate's signatureSubscribed and sworn to before me on ______________, ______._______________________________________<br>Notary Public<br>My Commission Expires ____________________NOTARY SEAL16.1-12-02.2.Counting of write-in votes - Certificate of candidacy by write-incandidates.1.An election board or canvassing board may not count or be required to officially<br>report any write-in vote for any:a.Individual who is required to file a certificate of write-in candidacy under this<br>section but who has not filed a certificate of candidacy and been certified as a<br>write-in candidate.b.Fictitious person or individual clearly not eligible to qualify for the office for<br>which the vote was cast.c.Statement concerning the candidates.d.Name written or printed by the voter for an office that did not also include the<br>darkening of the oval next to the write-in line, except that a write-in candidate<br>for a nonfederal office may make a timely written demand to a county<br>canvassing board to identify and preserve any write-in vote cast for the office<br>sought by the write-in candidate for canvass by the board. The candidate shall<br>deliver the demand to the county auditor and a copy to the county recorder no<br>later than thirty-six hours before the time the county canvassing board is<br>scheduled to meet.A demand only may be made if the unofficial electionresults maintained by the county auditor demonstrate that the write-in<br>candidate's known vote total is within the pertinent percentage limits provided in<br>subsection 1 or 2 of section 16.1-16-01 and a statement to that effect is<br>included in the demand. After delivery of the ballots as provided by section<br>16.1-15-08, the canvassing board shall review the ballots to identify any ballot<br>that contains a write-in vote.The county canvassing board shall tally andcanvass any write-in vote in the same manner as lawful or qualifying write-in<br>votes if the canvassing board is able to clearly ascertain the intent of the voter<br>from examining the ballot because the write-in candidate's name has been<br>written on the ballot opposite the office to be voted for or because of any other<br>cogent evidence of intent.e.Write-in votes which constitute five percent or less of the votes cast by the<br>voters for the candidate receiving the most votes for that office, except in the<br>case of a primary election in which enough votes were cast as write-in votes to<br>qualify a name for the general election ballot.This percentage is to becalculated based on the total number of write-in votes tabulated by the voting<br>equipment in the precincts of the county in which that office was on the ballot.f.Write-in votes that do not need to be individually canvassed based on the<br>requirements of this subsection must be listed on the official canvass report as<br>&quot;scattered write-ins&quot;.Page No. 22.An individual who intends to be a write-in candidate for president of the United<br>States or for statewide or judicial district office at any election shall file a certificate of<br>write-in candidacy with the secretary of state by four p.m. on the twenty-first day<br>before the election.The certificate must contain the name and address of thecandidate and be signed by the candidate. Before the thirteenth day before the<br>election, the secretary of state shall certify the names of the candidates to each<br>county auditor as write-in candidates.3.An individual who intends to be a write-in candidate at the general election for<br>president of the United States shall file a certificate of write-in candidacy with the<br>secretary of state by four p.m. on the twenty-first day before the general election.<br>The certificate must contain the names and addresses of the candidates for<br>presidential electors for that presidential candidate and a certification of acceptance<br>signed by each candidate for elector. The candidate shall sign the certificate. The<br>certificate may also include the name and address of a candidate for vice president<br>of the United States and a certification of acceptance signed by that candidate. The<br>secretary of state shall prescribe the form of the certificate of write-in candidacy and<br>the certification of acceptance. Before the thirteenth day before the election, the<br>secretary of state shall certify the names of the presidential candidates and the<br>presidential electors to each county auditor as write-in candidates.4.An individual who intends to be a write-in candidate for any legislative district office<br>shall file a certificate of write-in candidacy with the election officer with whom the<br>candidate would otherwise file to have the candidate's name placed on the ballot.<br>The certificate must contain the name, address, and signature of the candidate.<br>Certificates must be filed by four p.m. on the fourth day before the election. When<br>the candidate files a certificate, the candidate also shall file the contribution<br>statement provided for under section 16.1-08.1-02 complete through the day of the<br>filing of the certificate.5.A certificate under this section is not required when:a.No names will appear on the ballot for an office;b.The number of candidates appearing on the ballot for an office is less than the<br>number to be elected; orc.The number of candidates appearing on the ballot for a party office is less than<br>the number of nominations a party is entitled to make.6.An individual required to file a certificate of write-in candidacy may not seek more<br>than one office appearing on the primary and general election ballots.16.1-12-02.3. Nominating petition for an independent candidate not to be circulatedmore than one hundred fifty days before filing time. A petition provided for in this chapter<br>may not be circulated or signed more than one hundred fifty days before the date when any<br>petition must be filed under this chapter. Any signatures to a petition obtained more than one<br>hundred fifty days before that date may not be counted.16.1-12-03.Certificate of nomination to contain only one name - Person toparticipate in only one nomination - Exception. No certificate of nomination provided for by<br>this chapter, except in the case of presidential electors, may contain the name of more than one<br>nominee for each office to be filled. A person elected or appointed to an office appearing on the<br>no-party ballot or seeking nomination and election to a no-party office may also seek nomination<br>to legislative office and may serve in the legislative assembly, unless the no-party office is the<br>office of district court judge, or a statewide elective office. Except as may be permitted in this<br>section, no person may participate directly or indirectly in the nomination of more than one<br>person for each office to be filled on the general election ballot, except a person may sign a<br>certificate of nomination by petition for more than one person for each office, and no person mayPage No. 3accept a nomination to more than one office on the general election ballot. No political party is<br>entitled to more than one set of nominees on the official general election ballot.16.1-12-04. Certificates of nomination - Time and place of filing.1.Certificates of nomination for nominees for offices to be filled by the qualified<br>electors of the entire state must be filed with the secretary of state. Not less than<br>fifty-five days before any general or special election to fill any statewide office, the<br>secretary of state shall certify to each county auditor the names and addresses of<br>the persons nominated for statewide office according to this chapter as shown on<br>the certificates of nomination filed in the secretary of state's office.2.Certificates of nomination for nominees for county offices and legislative offices must<br>be filed with the county auditor of the county in which the candidate resides. The<br>county auditor shall certify the names and addresses of legislative candidates filing<br>certificates of nomination according to this chapter to the secretary of state. When a<br>legislative district is composed of more than one county, the county auditor shall<br>certify to the county auditors of the other counties comprising the legislative district<br>the names and addresses of the candidates filing certificates of nomination.3.Certificates of nomination must, without regard to the means of delivery, be filed and<br>in the actual possession of the appropriate officer not later than four p.m. on the<br>sixtieth day prior to the day of election.4.The secretary of state and the county auditors shall keep on file for six months all<br>certificates of nomination filed with them under this chapter and all certificates of<br>nomination must be open to public inspection during regular business hours.16.1-12-05. Secretary of state to certify nominations to county auditor - Duty ofcounty auditor. 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