Riverdale, North Dakota Public Records

The Riverdale Police Department is responsible for law enforcement within the city limits. The department's records, including incident reports and arrest records, are considered public information and can be requested by contacting the department directly. Residents can also access the North Dakota Attorney General's website at https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/public-safety/criminal-history-records/requesting-a-criminal-history-record-check to request a criminal history background check.

Election administration for Riverdale voters is conducted by the McLean County Auditor's Office, which serves as the county election authority, located at 712 5th Avenue NE, PO Box 1108, Washburn, ND 58577, phone (701) 462-8541. This office handles all aspects of voter registration, ballot preparation, polling place management, absentee voting, and election results for McLean County residents including those in Riverdale. North Dakota is unique among U.S. states in that it does not require voter registration; eligible residents can vote by showing valid identification at their polling place on Election Day. Acceptable ID includes a North Dakota driver's license, non-driver ID card, tribal government ID, or long-term care facility ID. The ID must show the voter's current residential address, or if it does not, the voter must provide supplemental documentation such as a utility bill or other document that confirms current residence in the precinct. This system eliminates registration deadlines but requires proper identification at the polls. Riverdale residents vote at their assigned precinct polling place, which for the City of Riverdale is typically located at Riverdale City Hall, 301 Main Street. Voters can confirm their specific polling location by contacting the McLean County Auditor's Office before Election Day. Riverdale holds municipal elections for mayor and city council members; the city operates under a commission form of government with elected officials serving four-year terms. Municipal elections are typically held in June during even-numbered years, coordinated with the statewide primary election schedule. The next municipal election cycle would be in June 2026, when voters may decide local offices depending on which seats are up for election that year. For November 3, 2026, Riverdale and McLean County voters will participate in the general election deciding several significant races. North Dakota's U.S. Senate seat held by Senator Kevin Cramer is not up for election in 2026 (next in 2028), but the U.S. House of Representatives seat for North Dakota's at-large district will be on the ballot. State-level races in 2026 may include the North Dakota Governor's office if the term cycle aligns, along with various state legislature seats for the North Dakota Senate and House of Representatives representing McLean County's legislative district. County offices including McLean County Commission seats, Sheriff, State's Attorney, and other constitutional offices may appear on the ballot depending on term expirations. In the November 2024 presidential election, McLean County reported voter turnout of approximately 68-72% of eligible voters, consistent with North Dakota's traditionally high rural turnout rates, with the county strongly favoring Republican candidates as is typical in rural North Dakota. North Dakota allows absentee voting by mail for voters who will be absent from their precinct on Election Day, or who qualify under other statutory provisions. Absentee ballot applications are available from the McLean County Auditor and must be submitted by a specified deadline before the election. Military and overseas voters have special provisions under federal UOCAVA law. Election records that are public in North Dakota include precinct-level election results, candidate filings, and certain campaign finance reports filed with the North Dakota Secretary of State. Voter history (the fact that an individual voted, though not how they voted) may be available under open records law, though North Dakota's lack of a voter registration database makes this less systematically accessible than in other states. Candidate filing information and ballot measure language are available from the County Auditor and the North Dakota Secretary of State's website at www.sos.nd.gov/elections. Campaign finance reports for statewide and legislative candidates are filed with the Secretary of State and are publicly searchable online, providing transparency into political contributions and expenditures.