Burleigh County Canvassing Board certifies general election results
The Burleigh County Canvassing Board on Monday certified results from the general election held in early November.
The election saw over 52,700 ballots cast in Burleigh County - surpassing total votes casts in the 2022 general election (35,740) and 2020 general election (51,130). Voter turnout was 70% in Burleigh County, higher than the statewide turnout of 63%.
Over half of the votes cast in Burleigh County were prior to Election Day. The county saw over 19,000 early in-person votes and around 9,630 absentee votes.
The Canvassing Board on Monday reviewed more than 200 additional uncured ballots and voted to approve 76 for inclusion in the election results. No results changed.
The election had races for county, statewide, congressional, state legislative, judicial and federal offices. Voters also decided a variety of local and statewide ballot measures.
Residents voted to send incumbent commissioners Steve Bakken and Brian Bitner back to the Burleigh County Commission; challengers Amelia Doll and Gregory Heilman were defeated. The four candidates were vying for two open seats on the board.
In Bismarck, voters decided two competitive state legislative races. Incumbent state Sen. Diane Larson, R-Bismarck, defeated Democratic challenger Matthew Zimny in District 30. Incumbent state Reps. Pat Heinert, R-Bismarck, and Lisa Meier, R-Bismarck, defeated Democratic challenger Shari Orser in District 32.
Bismarck residents also voted to approve two local ballot measures. Measure 1 authorizes a half-cent sales tax for the purpose of funding public transportation and public safety. Measure 2 allows City Commission minutes to continue being printed in the official city newspaper - The Bismarck Tribune.
Election season in the county became clouded after Burleigh County Elections Coordinator Lisa Hart resigned from her post just three weeks ahead of Election Day, citing health concerns. Burleigh County State's Attorney Julie Lawyer in October confirmed an internal investigation that appears related to Hart's abrupt exit.
The probe comes in response to a memo written by County Human Resource Director Pamela Binder, questioning the competence of Burleigh County Auditor Mark Splonskowski - Hart's boss - and arguing that there is a valid case for a formal hostile workplace environment investigation in the County Auditor's Office.
Splonskowski, who has served as county auditor since 2022, has denied all accusations of a hostile work environment within his office. Hart previously declined several Tribune requests for comment about her resignation or the memo.
Reach Zachary Weiand at 701-250-8264 or .
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