NORTH DAKOTA (KXNET) — Every two years, you hear people say the upcoming election is the most important. While that's true, it's not because of who the candidates are or what issues voters face, — but because the next election is always the most important. Voting is a privilege that citizens have, and a responsibility everybody should take seriously. You are responsible for choosing leaders, policies, and future, regardless of the type of election. The Secretary of State oversees North Dakota's election process, and county auditors are responsible for finding election workers and getting polling locations. Every county holds its elections within the confines of ND law and under a uniform election system to make sure that every county uses the same equipment and follows the same security process. The security measure process includes the following: Expect lower gas prices with upcoming election Ballot handling equipment never being connected to the internet and has no component for the connection. Requiring all eligible votes to have a valid form of ND identification before voting, Exclusively using paper ballots. Make sure no one is mailed a ballot unless 1) they requested one through an absentee ballot application process and 2) their identification is proven. Never use private money in the administration of an election (illegal under state law). North Dakota has different election laws than other states and is the only state without voter registration. Voter law makes sure that only ND residents over the age of 18 and U.S. citizens are participating. The Central Voter File also makes sure that one person = one vote, which means that every voter checked in at a polling location or returns an absentee ballot is marked as voted, and is shared with counties and polling locations across the state. The ND Legislature also passed election laws to guarantee the security and accuracy of elections, and because of that, voting remains accessible and secure. While the next election is still over a month away, people should start planning now. Absentee voting starts on September 26. In-person early voting starts two weeks before Election Day if your county chooses the option, this means that voting would start on October 22 since Election Day is November 5. People can visit this website to request an absentee ballot application, explore your polling location options, check which counties offer early voting, and access a sample ballot. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Today's Top Stories SIGN UP NOW