Colfax, North Dakota Public Records

Information about elections in Richland County is available through Richland County government website and the North Dakota Secretary of State's election portal at https://vip.sos.nd.gov. North Dakota stands alone among U.S. States in not requiring voter registration. Eligible residents can vote by showing identification at their polling place on Election Day. The state does, however, allow voters to update their information and verify their eligibility through the Voter Information Portal. To vote in North Dakota, a resident must be a U.S. Citizen, at least 18 years old on the date of the election, and a resident of the state for at least 30 days preceding the election. Voters must present valid identification showing their name, current residential address, and date of birth. Acceptable forms of ID include a North Dakota driver's license, non-driver ID card, tribal government-issued ID, or long-term care certificate. Because Colfax is an unincorporated community with no municipal government, there are no city council or mayoral elections specific to the area. Residents vote in county, state, and federal elections. Local voters are assigned to a precinct within Richland County, and polling place information can be obtained by contacting the Auditor at (701) 642-7806 or by using the North Dakota Secretary of State's Polling Place Finder at https://vip.sos.nd.gov. In the November 2024 general election, Richland County reported voter turnout of approximately 65-70% of eligible voters, consistent with North Dakota's historically high voter participation rates, particularly in presidential election years. The county supported Republican candidates in most statewide and federal races, reflecting the conservative political lean of rural southeastern North Dakota. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, Colfax and Richland County voters will decide several important races. North Dakota's U.S. Senate seat currently held by John Hoeven is not up for election in 2026; the next Senate race in the state will be in 2028 for the seat currently held by Kevin Cramer. However, the 2026 ballot will include North Dakota's single U.S. House of Representatives seat, statewide executive offices that may include Governor (North Dakota governors serve four-year terms; the most recent gubernatorial election was in 2024, so the next will be in 2028), and seats in the North Dakota Legislative Assembly. All 47 State Senate seats and all 94 State House seats are elected every four years (most recently in 2024, next in 2028 in the regular cycle), though special elections or redistricting may alter this schedule. Richland County voters will also elect county offices including County Commissioner seats (the county has five commissioners elected to staggered four-year terms), and may see other county offices such as Sheriff, State's Attorney, Auditor, Treasurer, and Recorder on the ballot depending on the election cycle. Voters should check with the Richland County Auditor closer to the 2026 election for a complete list of races and any local measures. North Dakota offers absentee voting for voters who are unable to vote in person on Election Day. Absentee ballot applications can be submitted to the Richland County Auditor's Office by mail, email, fax, or in person. The application deadline is 4:00 p.m. On the day before the election. Absentee ballots can be returned by mail (must be received by the Richland County Auditor by the close of polls on Election Day) or delivered in person to the auditor's office. North Dakota does not have universal mail-in voting; absentee voting is available upon request but most voters cast ballots in person. Election records that are public in North Dakota include precinct-level election results, which are posted by the Secretary of State and county auditors following each election; candidate filing information, including statements of candidacy and nominating petitions; campaign finance reports for candidates and political committees, which are filed with and available from the Secretary of State's campaign finance portal at https://vip.sos.nd.gov/campaignfinance; and voter history data, though individual voter choices are confidential and ballot secrecy is strictly protected. The North Dakota Secretary of State's website provides election information, results, and candidate data for all state and federal elections.