Surrey, N.D. – A recent investigation by Secretary of State Michael Howe revealed that a coding error in McHenry County caused 12 eligible voters in the Surrey School District to miss the bond measure on their 2026 general‑election ballots.
What the bond measure entailed
The Measure No. 1 proposal sought funds to replace aging portable classrooms with a permanent addition, connect the school’s breezeway, improve accessibility, and bring the campus up to fire‑code standards. Although the measure earned roughly 59.5% approval in the general election, North Dakota requires a 60% supermajority for school bonds to pass.
How the error occurred
Initial review identified an improperly coded street segment that affected nine eligible voters, two of whom voted in the general election without seeing the question. A deeper review uncovered eight additional street‑segment errors affecting 13 households in the rural area surrounding Deering, totaling 29 eligible voters. Of those, 12 cast ballots in the general election and three participated in the June primary, all without the bond question.
State response
Howe expressed “incredible frustration” and apologized to the Surrey community, noting that the oversight stemmed from a team member who failed to ensure households outside the city limits were included in the new district boundary. That employee is no longer with the Secretary of State’s office.
McHenry County has now corrected the street‑segment coding, and for the 2028 election the office will implement new GIS‑based software, already funded by the North Dakota Legislature, to reduce manual input errors.
Next steps for Surrey
Surrey Superintendent Steve Bucks said the district will develop a plan to move forward and present it to the school board at their upcoming meeting. The district serves roughly 440 students from pre‑K through 12th grade.
Legal options
Howe indicated the Secretary of State’s office will comply with any court request should the district choose to contest the 2026 election under NDCC Chapter 16.1‑16.
Original reporting: KFYR-TV Bismarck (news) — read the source article.
