Ballot measure resolution a roadblock to democratic process

Fargo: Voters in North Dakota are gearing up for the general election on November 5, 2024. But there’s a big issue brewing with House Concurrent Resolution 3003. This proposal could really mess with our rights as citizens.

The resolution is like a repeat of last year’s Measure 2, which tried to limit our ability to push for changes through ballot measures. It’s all about making it tougher for regular folks to have their voices heard. If this passes, we’d need 60% approval for constitutional amendments, which is a tall order.

Ballot initiatives are super important. They let us, the people, have a say, especially when lawmakers aren’t listening. This right is even written into our state constitution, reminding us that power belongs to the people.

But HCR 3003 flips the script on majority rule. It means that if 41% of voters don’t like something, they can block it, ignoring the wishes of the 59% who do. That’s just not fair.

Remember Measure 2? It tried to take away majority rule by making us vote twice on issues. Thankfully, it got shot down by 56% of voters.

Now, HCR 3003 is even worse. It sets up a double standard: citizen initiatives would need a supermajority, while proposals from politicians could pass with just a simple majority. This is all about keeping power in the hands of lawmakers, not the people.

We’ve seen similar attempts in places like South Dakota and Florida, and they usually aim to stifle grassroots democracy. Raising the bar makes it harder to advocate for schools, healthcare, and other important issues.

North Dakotans have already rejected this kind of measure. HCR 3003 is just another unnecessary hurdle in our democratic process. We deserve better than this.