By Dave Thompson
Bismarck, ND – The North Dakota Farmers Union has decided not to refer the new legislative redistricting plan to voters.
Rather, the group will work with the next legislature on campaign reform.
Legislators decided to reduce the number of districts from 49 to 47. The Farmers Union convention passed a resolution supporting 49 districts, and asking its board to look at a potential initiative or referral.
North Dakota Farmers Union president Robert Carlson says the organization's board of governors met this week to talk about this.
"Realizing that we had until March eighth to get an initiative put together, they concluded that it was not feasible, and that what would be more feasible would be to go to the Legislature at the next session with a bipartisan coalition, and ask the Legislature to consider establishing a nonpartisan commission to take care of redistricting in the future."
Carlson says the Farmers Union will also ask the Legislature to consider state house "sub-districts" -- as well as moving the primary election back to September. He says the group will ask the Legislature to put that primary question on the ballot in 2004.