BISMARCK, N.D. (KFGO) – An initiated measure requiring term limits for North Dakota’s legislators and governor is a step closer to appearing on the November general election ballot after its sponsoring committee submitted approximately 46,000 signatures to Secretary of State Al Jaeger Tuesday morning.
If Jaeger determines that at least 31,000 of those signatures are valid, voters this fall will decide if the state’s constitution should be changed to limit governor’s terms to two, and cumulative years of service in the state House and Senate to a maximum of eight in each.
The term limits established by the proposal would be prospective in nature, so current office holders would not be impacted unless they choose to run for another seat, nor would service prior to the change be counted against future runs. The proposal also requires that any subsequent changes to term limits be made only by a petition initiated by the public and never by the legislature.
Several current elected officials were part of the measure’s sponsoring committee, including state legislators Rick Becker, Oley Larsen, and Jason Heitkamp.
Jaeger has until March 22 to approve the signatures, clearing the measure to appear the November ballot.