You Asked, They Answered! Williams County to Add Polling Locations for November Election
Williston, ND (KEYZ) You asked, and Williams County Commissioners Tuesday answered the call for more voting options ahead of the November 2022 general election.
Williams County Commission Chairman Cory Hanson says the body voted Tuesday to approve the addition of precinct-specific polling places in response to resident feedback and the commission's desire to make voting more convenient and easier for everyone.
It's About Encouraging People to Exercise Their Right to Vote
"We had some phone calls," said Hanson. "[Callers said] 'Hey, I live in Grenora. I don't get down to Williston' or 'I can't make it on that Tuesday,' so we thought, you know, we want people to get out and vote. All these different things we're doing is to make it easy for people to go vote because if you don't use your voice, we may not know what you want done."
For the June 2022 primary, Williams County voters were given the choice between two voting "centers," the Williston ARC and the Tioga Community Center. Heading into the general election, four precinct-specific polling places will be set up in addition to maintaining the ARC as a general voting center. Commissioners approved polling places at the Grenora City Hall, Wildrose Fire Hall, and Ray City Hall. Tioga residents will be able to vote at city hall; the community center will no longer serve as a general voting center.
Casting My Ballot. Voting Center or Polling Location?
Where you should cast your vote come November is readily explained by Hanson. "The ARC will be a polling center. Now, what that means is anybody in the county can vote at the ARC. The other ones, you have to [live] in those different areas to be able to vote there."
I'm Unable to Vote In-Person. How Do I Get an Absentee Ballot?
As part of their steadfast efforts to boost voter participation this fall, Williams County Commissioners also voted Tuesday to send out a blanket mailing of absentee voter applications for the November 2022 election.
"We are going to be mailing out applications for absentee ballots," said Hanson. "They'll be mailed to people who haven't already filled one out."
Hanson says a poor showing for the June primary was the catalyst for proposing a mass mailing of applications for the absentee process. "We just saw the voting numbers were down in the primary. Personally, I don't like to see that. I want to see everybody get out and get their voice heard."
Hanson adds that if you filled out an absentee ballot application for the June primary and checked the box that you wish to proceed in the same fashion in November, you will not receive a second application.
A Brief Look at Trends
Last June, the North Dakota Secretary of State's office reported that nearly 16-percent of eligible voters turned out for the primary election. Over 105-thousand ballots were cast, yet the state has more than 671-thousand eligible voters.
Adams County had the highest percentage of voter turnout with just over 50-percent of eligible voters casting ballots. Williams County showed the lowest turnout with just under six percent heading to the polls.
The figures are in sharp contrast to historical trends in North Dakota where voter turnout for June primaries has been around 25%.
Have More Questions?
For questions on your specific voting options, the process for voting by absentee / mail-in ballot, or those of a general nature regarding voting in Williams County, visit:
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