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Bismarck

Bismarck Polling Site Corrects Ballot Error

A few voters at Liberty Elementary School received incorrect ballots before Burleigh County resolved the issue by 9:45 a.m.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections

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Burleigh County officials corrected an incorrect-ballot error at Liberty Elementary School in Bismarck by 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, affecting Districts 7 and 8. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Voting began at Liberty Elementary School in Bismarck, where a few voters received an incorrect ballot. Voters who recognized the error before casting ballots received and voted on the correct ballot.

Why it matters

The error affected voters in Districts 7 and 8, which share the Liberty Elementary polling location, in a county where a state senate race is on the ballot. The county's prompt correction is intended to ensure every voter at the site receives the proper ballot.

The error involved reading receipts at a single polling location serving Districts 7 and 8. Burleigh County Auditor Mark Splonskowski said Republican Sen. Michelle Axtman appears on every District 7 ballot.

The players

Burleigh County Auditor Mark Splonskowski

Mark Splonskowski is the Burleigh County Auditor, the county official who responded to the polling error and confirmed the ballot issue.

Michelle Axtman

Michelle Axtman is a Republican state senator who is on the ballot in District 7 for the State Senate.

The details

A judge at the Liberty Elementary School polling location was making mistakes, and the Burleigh County Auditor went to the site to correct his process. The county also ensured all judges were providing proper ballots.

Timeline

  1. Nov. 3, 2026: Voting began at Liberty Elementary School, when the incorrect ballots were distributed.

  2. Nov. 3, 2026, 9:45 a.m.: Burleigh County resolved the ballot issue at the polling site.

Voters in Districts 7 and 8 who cast ballots at Liberty Elementary School should confirm the ballot they received matched their district. Voters who notice a mismatch can alert a poll worker before casting their ballot.

The takeaway

Ballot errors caught early at the polling place can usually be corrected before any votes are cast, which is why voters are encouraged to check their ballot against their district.

Further reading

For more on how ballots are administered, see Elections coverage on Wisevoter.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Kfyrtv.

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