Voters in Knox are served by the Benson County Auditor's Office, Benson County's election authority. The office is located at 311 B Avenue West, Minnewaukan, ND 58351, phone (701) 473-5177. The County Auditor administers all aspects of elections for local residents, including voter registration, absentee ballot processing, polling place management, and vote tabulation. North Dakota stands alone among U.S. States in not requiring voter registration. Residents may vote on Election Day by providing proof of residency and identification at their assigned polling place.
Acceptable forms of ID include a North Dakota driver's license or non-driver ID card with current residential address, tribal government-issued ID, or other documents establishing residency in the precinct. If a voter's ID lacks a current address, they may use a supplemental document such as a utility bill, bank statement, or current property tax statement to establish residency. This distinctive feature of state election law means there is no voter registration deadline or online registration portal, simplifying the voting process for residents. Knox, as an unincorporated community without municipal government, does not hold city council or mayoral elections. Residents vote in federal, state, and county elections. Local residents participate in these county-wide elections, with results determined by all Benson County voters. To find their assigned polling place, residents should contact the Benson County Auditor at (701) 473-5177 prior to Election Day. The North Dakota Secretary of State's website at vote.nd.gov provides a polling place lookup tool where voters can enter their address to find their Election Day voting location. Benson County typically operates several polling locations throughout Benson County on Election Day, with Knox-area residents assigned to a specific precinct based on their residential address. Polls in North Dakota are open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM Central Time on Election Day, with anyone in line at 7:00 PM permitted to vote. Election records in North Dakota are largely public. While voter registration lists do not exist due to the state's same-day voting system, election results by precinct are public records available from the County Auditor and published by the Secretary of State at results.vote.nd.gov. Campaign finance records for state-level candidates and ballot measure committees are maintained by the North Dakota Secretary of State's office and searchable online. Candidate filing information, including nominating petitions and statements of interest, are public records available from the Benson County Auditor for county offices and the Secretary of State for state and federal offices. The county has historically leaned Republican in federal elections, though local elections often focus on individual candidates rather than party affiliation. At the federal level, North Dakota's North Dakota's single U.S. At the state level, the Governor's office and other statewide elected positions including Attorney General, Secretary of State, and other constitutional offices will be contested.Current federal, state, and local election schedules, ballot contests, candidate filings, and certified results for Knox voters are published by the North Dakota Secretary of State Elections (https://www.sos.nd.gov/elections). The community falls within a specific legislative district (district number depends on current redistricting, contact Benson County Auditor for current district assignment). Voters should contact the Benson County Auditor at (701) 473-5177 or visit the North Dakota Secretary of State's website at vote.nd.gov closer to the election for a complete list of races and any ballot measures. North Dakota offers absentee voting by mail for voters who will be absent from their precinct on Election Day, are unable to vote in person due to illness or disability, or prefer to vote by mail. Absentee ballot applications are available from the Benson County Auditor's office and must be submitted by 5:00 PM on the Monday before Election Day. Absentee ballots must be returned by mail or in person to the County Auditor's office by the close of polls (7:00 PM) on Election Day. Early voting in person is available at the Benson County Auditor's office beginning 15 days before Election Day, allowing voters to cast their ballot in person without waiting until Election Day. North Dakota does not have all-mail voting or extensive early voting periods like some states, but these absentee options provide flexibility for local voters.