Federal Judge Strikes Down Portions of the Jaeger Voter ID Law

(BISMARCK, ND) – North Dakota Secretary of State Al Jaeger played a key role in advising the legislature on the legality of the voter ID measure they passed in 2017. Unsurprisingly, many sections of the measure Jaeger helped draft were struck down this week in a decision by U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Hovland.

Hovland, a Republican appointee, ruled that the state must accept multiple forms of identification or other documentation that includes a residential or mailing address. The ruling also states that Jaeger must create a voter education system to fully inform voters of the ID requirements that are still in force. Unfortunately we have already seen that when a task like this is placed in the hands of Al Jaeger, it is not ‘easy as pie.’

“Judge Hovland’s ruling, once again proves to North Dakotans that Al Jaeger is simply not capable of handling the modern demands of the office of Secretary of State,” said Scott McNeil, Executive Director of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party. “Ensuring our elections are run smoothly and fairly and that the citizens of North Dakota can vote easily is the most important role of the Secretary of State’s office. Once again, Secretary Jaeger has fallen down on the job.”

McNeil continued, “I would like to thank the members of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and Bismarck attorney Tom Dickson for filing this lawsuit and fighting to maintain North Dakotans most fundamental right as citizens.”