North Dakota Will Vote on Amendment Threshold in 2026

Voters will decide on November 3, 2026, if constitutional amendments require 60 percent approval.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a single geometric barrier on a flat horizon, representing a high political threshold. — North Dakota voters will decide on November 3, 2026, whether to require a 60 percent supermajority for future state constitutional amendments. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should constitutional amendments require at least 60 percent of the vote to pass?

North Dakota Right to Life has endorsed Constitutional Measure 1, which proposes raising the passage threshold for constitutional amendments to 60 percent. Voters will head to the polls on November 3, 2026, to decide the future of the state's amendment process.

Why it matters

The measure aims to prevent national organizations from using narrow majorities to change state constitutions by requiring a broader consensus for passage. Proponents argue this threshold ensures that only amendments with significant public support are adopted.

Constitutional Measure 1 sets a 60 percent approval threshold for future amendments, replacing the state's current simple majority requirement. Recent examples of similar thresholds include Florida, where an abortion amendment failed in 2024 with 57.2 percent of the vote.

The players

North Dakota Right to Life

This is an advocacy organization that has officially endorsed the passage of Constitutional Measure 1.

The details

The initiative seeks to heighten the consensus required to alter the state constitution. By requiring a 60 percent supermajority, the measure would increase the difficulty of passing amendments compared to outcomes seen in other states, where abortion-related measures recently passed in Ohio with 56.6 percent, Missouri with 51.6 percent, and Montana with 57.8 percent.

The Florida abortion amendment vote occurred in 2024.
North Dakota residents will vote on the measure on November 3, 2026.

Political Context

Opponents of the measure, including voting rights advocates and various interest groups, contend that raising the threshold disenfranchises the electorate by granting minority interests the power to block majority-supported reforms. This debate mirrors the ongoing national tension over how high the hurdle should be for citizens to directly amend state governing documents.

If passed, voters will face a much steeper requirement for approving future changes to the North Dakota constitution. This change effectively shifts the balance of power, making it significantly harder for citizen-led initiatives to succeed regardless of the specific topic.

The takeaway

Voters should be aware that this measure fundamentally alters the state's democratic process for constitutional change. Implementing a 60 percent threshold would align North Dakota with other states that have successfully utilized higher standards to limit constitutional updates.