In January 2026, more than 1,000 North Dakota residents participated in the statewide public priorities survey conducted by the ND Ethics Commission. The findings indicate widespread concern about whether elected officials act ethically and highlight strong public support for clear and enforceable ethics standards. Public priorities surveys will be conducted biennially by the Commission and guide our mission to create a space where North Dakota public officials act ethical and accountable. The full results are available below. For best results, expand the survey to full screen.
We want to hear from you!
The Ethics Commission encourages public feedback and input on how it works to meet its mission. Members of the public can use the fillable form to provide easy and hassle-free input to the Commission's staff.
To complete our form, click here.
The North Dakota Ethics Commission welcomes and values public input during its meetings and will host a public comment period during its regular meetings. The public comment period during the Commission’s regular meetings will create a limited public forum.
To submit your request, complete your public comment form here.
Submit a complaint with the Ethics Commission here: Complaint Form
You can also call the Ethics Commission’s Confidential Hotline at (701) 328-6000 or email EthicsHotline@nd.gov to submit a complaint or information.
We rely on the voices of North Dakotans to guide our education, outreach, and planning efforts. Through our 2026 Public Priorities Survey, residents helped us identify the issues that matter most. We are grateful for this opportunity to connect with our neighbors and look forward to adapting the Commission’s priorities to better serve the current and future generations of North Dakota.
~Rebecca Binstock, Executive Director
About the ND Ethics Commission Public Priorities Survey:
Overview
In January 2026, the North Dakota Ethics Commission launched a statewide public priorities survey to gather public input on ethics-related issues and inform future education, outreach, and strategic planning efforts. The results of the survey were made available to the public in June 2026.
Survey Administration
The survey was developed and administered by the North Dakota Ethics Commission and distributed publicly through the Commission’s website and related public communications channels, including notice in all official county newspapers in North Dakota. Participation was open to North Dakota residents and responses were collected anonymously during the public response period. The survey response window was approximately 3 weeks.
Methodology
This survey used a voluntary, self-selected response methodology. Participants were invited to complete a brief online questionnaire estimated to take 5–7 minutes. Questions asked respondents to identify and prioritize ethics-related topics including government transparency, conflicts of interest, campaign ethics, lobbying practices, complaint accessibility, and additional areas of concern. Participants accessed the questionnaire though Microsoft Power BI. The Ethic Commission received support from NDIT to create the questionnaire.
Because participation was open and non-randomized, results should be interpreted as public feedback from respondents rather than statistically representative of all North Dakotans. Findings are intended to provide directional insight into perceived public priorities and areas of interest.
Purpose and Intended Use
The purpose of the survey was to better understand which ethics topics members of the public consider most important and to support the Commission’s planning, education, communication, and outreach efforts. Survey responses were not intended to function as ethics complaints, policy referenda, or formal public opinion polling.
Reporting Considerations
Results should be presented descriptively and with appropriate methodological context, avoiding conclusions that imply causation, statewide representation, or population-level estimates.