North Dakota Code 44-04-21 – Open voting at public meetings required – Results recorded in minutes
1. Unless otherwise specifically provided by law, all votes of whatever kind taken at any public meeting governed by the provisions of section 44-04-19 must be open, public votes, and all nonprocedural votes must be recorded roll call votes, with the votes of each member being made public at the open meeting. Procedural votes must be recorded roll call votes upon the request of any member of a governing body holding a meeting subject to this section. As used in this section, “nonprocedural” should be broadly interpreted and includes all votes that pertain to the merits of the matter before the governing body.
Terms Used In North Dakota Code 44-04-21
- Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
- Legislative session: That part of a chamber's daily session in which it considers legislative business (bills, resolutions, and actions related thereto).
- Rule: includes regulation. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
2. Minutes must be kept of all open meetings and are records subject to section 44-04-18. The minutes must include, at a minimum:
a. The names of the members attending the meeting; b. The date and time the meeting was called to order and adjourned; c. A list of topics discussed regarding public business; d. A description of each motion made at the meeting and whether the motion was seconded; e. The results of every vote taken at the meeting; and
f. The vote of each member on every recorded roll call vote.
Notwithstanding subsection 8 of section 44-04-18, the disclosure of minutes kept under this subsection may not be conditioned on the approval of the minutes by the governing body.
3. Subsection 1 does not apply to a nonprocedural vote relating to the consideration of an amendment by a legislative committee or the legislative assembly during a legislative session, unless otherwise required by legislative rule.