North Dakota lawmakers and election officials are considering new measures to prioritize their personal security as threats and harassment continue to occur across the state.
Senator Judy Lee receives a call to her landline every day around 9 a.m., according to the North Dakota Monitor. It’s the only number the public has access to–it could be a threat, or it could simply be a scam call. However, law enforcement is warning legislators to be cautious.
Though lawmakers’ addresses were removed from the legislature’s website following the killings of two Minnesota legislators, concerns still remain about safety, as state law still requires residential addresses for candidate verification and petition signatures.
The North Dakota Highway Patrol has reported an “increasing frequency” of harassment in recent years and urged officials to report even minor incidents, noting that “threats precede violence”. Secretary of State Michael Howe has indicated a willingness to work with the 2027 Legislature to amend disclosure laws in favor of privacy.
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