Elections

About

The Williams County Auditor's Office administers primary, general and special county, state, and federal elections. June Primary Elections include city elections. School Districts administer their own elections. Elections are normally held every two years on even years.

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November 5, 2024: General Election

Important Dates: General Election

Still being accepted! Absentee Ballot Applications are available online or from the Auditor’s Office. Applications are only valid from January 1st to December 31st each year. You MUST re-apply each year to be able to vote absentee in an election.
On or about September 26, 2024 @ 8 am (dependent upon delivery of ballots from the printer) First Day for Absentee Ballots
  • Absentee Ballots can begin to be picked up from the Auditor’s Office.
  • The Auditor's Office will begin mailing Absentee Ballots to those who have applied.
  • ExpressVote is available in the lobby of the Williams County Administration Building
October 28, 2024 Last day Auditor’s Office will mail Absentee Ballots to those who have applied. After this date, Absentee Ballots will need to be picked up from the Auditor's Office.
November 4, 2024 Last day for Absentee Ballots
  • Last day to apply for Absentee Ballot at the Auditor’s Office.
  • Absentee Ballots are due by 5 pm CT at the Auditor’s Office or in a secure Ballot Drop Box.
  • Any absentee ballots returned via mail must be postmarked no later than November 4, 2024. If you bring your ballot to the post office ON November 4, 2024, you must ask for it to be “hand-cancelled”
  • Last day Express Vote will be available in the lobby of the Williams County Administration Building.
November 5, 2024 Election Day! If you did not vote via Absentee Ballot, you can vote in-person at the polls between 8 am and 7 pm CT.

**PIease contact the Auditor’s Office if you have submitted an application, but have not received a ballot 7-10 days after submission date!

Click below to quickly look up your voter information including where to vote and verify that your address is current and correct.

Where to Vote

Before the Election: Absentee Ballot

Voting via absentee ballot means you can cast your ballot prior to Election Day, but your vote is not tallied until Election Day.

Absentee Ballot Application

To receive an absentee ballot, you must first complete an Absentee Ballot Application. Applications are only valid from January 1st to December 31st each year. You MUST re-apply each year to be able to vote absentee in an election. 

Where can I complete an application?

Beginning January 2, 2024, applications can be completed online, by requesting an application from the Auditor’s Office via phone (701-577-4500), or in person at the Auditor’s Office, which is located on the first floor of the Williams County Administration Building in downtown Williston (206 E Broadway).

How do I submit my Application?

Williams County Auditor’s Office
P.O. Box 2047
Williston, ND 58802-2047

Fax to Auditor’s Office @ 701-577-4510

Drop off at Williams County Auditor’s Office (206 E Broadway Williston, ND). The Office is open Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm.

What do I need to know when completing the application?

  • To help us efficiently process your application, please PRINT your name.
  • Indicate the election(s) you would like a ballot for. If you only select one, then you will only receive a ballot for that election. If you would like to receive an Absentee Ballot for all qualified elections in a given year, be sure to check all eligible boxes in the first section of the Absentee Ballot Application.
  • Make sure that your current residential and mailing address is up-to-date with the ND DOT Driver’s License office. You can do this online on the Driver’s License Office website.

NDCC § 16.1-07-06 states:

  • A copy of supplemental documentation, if necessary, can be used when applying for an absentee/mail ballot.
  • Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant for completion and resubmission.

Can I obtain a ballot for someone else?

An individual can obtain an absentee ballot for up to three individuals in addition to their own ballot for one specific election by using the Agent Absentee Ballot Application. Additionally, an applicant living with a disability that prevents the individual from traveling away from the individual’s home to obtain an acceptable form of identification may use an attester. The attester must provide his or her name, North Dakota driver’s license, nondriver’s, or tribal identification number, and sign the absentee/mail ballot application form to attest to the applicant’s North Dakota residency and voting eligibility.

Absentee Ballots

How do I submit my Absentee Ballot?

Absentee Ballots must be returned prior to Election Day and are not accepted on Election Day at the Auditor’s Office or voting locations; absentee ballots brought to a voting location on Election Day will be spoiled and you can vote at the polls. October 28, 2024 will be the last day that ballots are MAILED to those who have applied. After that date, Absentee Ballots must be picked up from the Auditor’s Office.

Mail Via USPS

General Election Absentee Ballots must be postmarked on or before November 4, 2024. If you bring an Absentee Ballot to the post office on the day it is due, you must ask for it to be “hand-cancelled.”

Drop off at Williams County Auditor’s Office (206 E Broadway Williston, ND)

General Election Absentee Ballots must be received by 5:00 pm on November 4, 2024. The Office is open Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm.

Deposit in a Secure Drop Box located within Williams County

Primary Election Absentee Ballots must be deposited by 5:00 pm CT on November 4, 2024

Five secure Ballot Drop Boxes are located around Williams County. All boxes are located outside.

  • Grenora City Hall | 204 Main St, Grenora
  • Ray City Hall | 101 Main St, Ray
  • Tioga City Hall | 16 1st Street NE, Tioga
  • TISA Building | 331 4th Ave E, Trenton (on north side of building)
  • Williams County Administration Building | 206 E Broadway, Williston (by south entrance)

On Election Day: In Person Voting Locations

Any qualified elector of Williams County can vote in person at a Vote Center or at a Consolidated Precinct Polling Place, based on the address of their primary residence.

To vote, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old on Election Day, have a valid North Dakota ID, tribal ID or a 2024 Long-Term Care Certificate (from a qualified nursing home), and be a resident of Williams County, North Dakota.

Polls will be open from 8:00 am – 7:00 pm CT on November 5, 2024. If you are not sure what precinct you reside, you can find that information on the Precinct and Polling Locations Map.

Vote Centers:

Williston ARC
822 18th Street E Williston, ND 58801

Who can vote here?
Any qualified elector that is a resident of Williams County

Upper Missouri Valley Fairgrounds Multipurpose Building (Building B)
519 53rd Street East Williston, ND 58801

Who can vote here?
Any qualified elector that is a resident of Williams County

Consolidated Precinct Polling Place:

Only qualified electors of assigned designated precincts can vote at a Consolidated Precinct Polling Place.

Grenora City Hall
204 Main Street, Grenora, ND 58845

Who can vote here?
Any qualified elector from precincts 12, 54 and 67

Ray City Hall
101 Main Street Ray, ND 58849

Who can vote here?
Any qualified elector from precincts 54, 62, 63, and 66

Tioga Community Center
410 6th Street NE, Tioga, ND 58852

Who can vote here?
Any qualified elector from precincts 54 and 64

Wildrose City/Fire Hall
412 Main Street Wildrose, ND 58795

Who can vote here?
Any qualified elector from precincts 54, 65 and 68

More Information

Click below to access the Absentee Ballot Application, a sample ballot (available in late September), and more information about local candidates and all measures. The sample ballot is a consolidated ballot and has all measures and races. The ballot you receive will be specific to your precinct, which is based on your residential address.

Voter Qualifications

North Dakota does not have voter registration. To be eligible to vote in North Dakota, a voter must be:

  • A citizen of the United States;
    • If you are a new citizen and your ID lists permanent or temporary - you will need to update it before Election Day at a NDDOT Drivers License Office to properly reflect your new citizen status.
  • Eighteen years or older on the day of election;
  • A resident of North Dakota; and
    • A resident who has resided in the precinct at least thirty days immediately preceding any election; and
    • Able to provide a valid form of identification such as a North Dakota drivers license, nondriver ID, tribal ID, or a 2024 Long-Term Care Certificate (from a qualified nursing home) that includes your current residential address and date of birth.
      • If your residential and mailing address is not current, and your drivers license does not have a CDL certification, you can update your address online.
      • If an individual’s valid form of identification does not include all the information required in 16.1-01-04.1(2) of the North Dakota Century Code, or the information is not current, the identification must be supplemented by presenting any of the documents as outlined in section 16.1-01-04.1(3)(b) of the NDCC.

College Students: Are you a college student in Williams County? Check out this quick guide to learn about your voting options.

If you are unsure if you will have the proper documentation to vote in an election, please contact the Williams County Auditor's Office.

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