AAUW hosts voter education event with secretary of state in Jamestown

Jamestown voters will get a crash course in voter ID rules, absentee voting, polling locations and ballot measures when the American Association of University Women’s Jamestown-area chapter hosts North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe at the 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. April 14.

The session is being framed as a practical civics lesson for people who want to understand how to vote before the next local election. Howe is expected to walk attendees through how to make a voting plan, how to check a sample ballot and what to expect when election day approaches, with a focus on the details that can trip up both first-time and infrequent voters.

He also is expected to explain the different types of ballot measures, identify measures already approved for the June 9 primary election ballot and discuss measure petitions now in circulation. That makes the event especially timely in Stutsman County, where ballot questions can affect laws, governance and the way local voters make their voices heard.

Joan Enderle, the program lead and an AAUW member, said the event offers a chance to better understand the initiated-measure process guaranteed under the North Dakota Constitution and to learn more about the measures headed for the June 9 election. Olivia Schloegel, a volunteer community organizer with the League of Women Voters, will share League resources and offer tips on how residents can connect with elected officials so their perspectives are heard.

The evening is designed to be interactive, with audience questions allowed and refreshments served. Held in the historic courthouse at the center of Jamestown’s civic life, the program is aimed at turning election-season confusion into a clearer checklist: verify ID, know where to vote, understand absentee options and review the ballot before casting a vote.