Under recently passed state law, voters would have needed a North Dakota driver’s license or non-driver ID, tribal ID, long-term care certificate, passport or military ID showing North Dakota as their place of residence.

As a “failsafe,” Jaeger said the state is reverting to voting laws that allow residents without in-state identification to cast their vote by signing voter affidavits listing their name and place of residence, legally swearing to their 30-day residency. Prior to voter-ID law changes, North Dakota faced a similar situation with pop-up man camps in western North Dakota during the height of the oil boom.

The voter affidavit option applies statewide to anyone who comes to the polls, Jaeger said.

Jaeger said his office will be following up after elections to make sure all affidavit voters were qualified. Fraudulently claiming residency in order to vote in the state is a Class A misdemeanor.

“They are going to be signing something that they are saying is true so they should know … if it isn’t true, there is possibility for some kind of action,” Jaeger said.