North Dakota State Auditor
| North Dakota State Auditor | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $112,238 |
| 2023-25 FY Budget: | $16,377,824 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | North Dakota Constitution, Article V, Section 2 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder | |
North Dakota State Auditor
Josh Gallion | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 5, 2024 |
| Last election: | November 3, 2020 |
| Other North Dakota Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission • Tax Commissioner | |
The North Dakota State Auditor is an elected state executive position in the North Dakota state government. The auditor conducts professional and independent evaluations and audits of state and local financial records and performance reports. The auditor also conducts special investigations and checks for alleged fraud in state government.[1]
The auditor serves a four-year term and is popularly elected during presidential election years.[2]
Current officeholder
The current officeholder is Josh Gallion (R). He was first elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2020.[3] Gallion succeeded Robert Peterson (R) in the position.
Authority
The auditor's authority is derived from Article V, Section 2 of the North Dakota Constitution.
Article V, Section 2:
| The qualified electors of the state at the times and places of choosing members of the legislative assembly shall choose a governor, lieutenant governor, agriculture commissioner, attorney general, auditor, insurance commissioner, three public service commissioners, secretary of state, superintendent of public instruction, tax commissioner, and treasurer. ...[2] |
Qualifications
Article V, Section 4 of the North Dakota Constitution establishes the qualifications of the office:
| To be eligible to hold an elective office established by this article, a person must be a qualified elector of this state, must be at least twenty-five years of age on the day of the election, and must have been a resident of this state for the five years preceding election to office. ...[2] |
- Qualified North Dakota voter
- At least 25 years old
- A resident of North Dakota for at least five years preceding the election
Vacancies
Article V, Section 8 addresses vacancies in state executive offices. In the event of a vacancy, the governor appoints a successor. Once appointed, the individual serves the remainder of the unexpired term.[2] If a vacancy occurs within 95 days before a regularly-scheduled election for the position, the office must remain vacant.[4]
Duties
The auditor conducts professional and independent evaluations and audits of state and local financial records and performance reports. The auditor also conducts special investigations and checks for alleged fraud in state government.[1] Additional duties include, but are not limited to:[5]
- Performing audits of the annual financial report and state agencies at least once every two years or by order of the governor or legislative audit committee;
- Performing audits of counties, cities, water resource districts, and additional political subdivisions at least once every two years or by order of the governor or legislative audit committee; and,
- Reporting the results of audits and evaluations to the governor and secretary of state.
Elections
The auditor in North Dakota is popularly elected every four years in presidential election years. The term of office is four years.[2]
2024
- See also: North Dakota Auditor election, 2024
General election candidates
- Josh Gallion (Incumbent) (Republican Party)
- Timothy Lamb (Democratic Party)
Democratic primary candidates
Republican primary candidates
- Josh Gallion (Incumbent) ✔
2020
- See also: North Dakota Auditor election, 2020
General election candidates
- Josh Gallion (Incumbent) (Republican Party) ✔
- Patrick Hart (Democratic Party)
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
Democratic primary candidates
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
Republican primary candidates
- Josh Gallion (Incumbent) ✔
2016
- See also: North Dakota Auditor election, 2016
The general election for state auditor was held on November 8, 2016.
Josh Gallion defeated Roland Riemers in the North Dakota auditor election.
| North Dakota Auditor, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Josh Gallion |
76.62% | 236,751 | |
| Libertarian | Roland Riemers | 22.92% | 70,818 | |
| Write-in votes | 0.46% | 1,423 | ||
| Total Votes | 308,992 | |||
| Source: North Dakota Secretary of State | ||||
Full history
To view the electoral history dating back to 2000 for the office of North Dakota State Auditor, click [show] to expand the section. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2012Incumbent Robert Peterson (R) won re-election in 2012. He defeated Scot Kelsh (D) in the November 6, 2012 general election.
2008On November 4, 2008, Robert Peterson won re-election to the office of North Dakota State Auditor. He defeated Daryl Splichal (D-NPL) in the general election.
2004 On November 2, 2004, Robert Peterson won re-election to the office of North Dakota State Auditor. He defeated Brent Edison (D-NPL) in the general election.
2000 On November 7, 2000, Robert Peterson won re-election to the office of North Dakota State Auditor. He defeated Mary Ekstrom in the general election.
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Divisions
The office of the auditor consists of the following divisions:[1]
- Agency: conducts financial, compliance, performance, and information system audits of the state government and university system.
- Local Government: conducts audits of counties, cities, and other political subdivisions in addition to providing non-auditing services such as reviewing annual financial statements.
- North Dakota University System Performance: reviews the adequacy of select activities at public colleges and universities;
- Mineral Royalty: conducts compliance review and audits of federal royalty payments for natural resource leases in the state.
- Operations: oversees the department's information technology, accountants, communications, and others.
State budget
- See also: North Dakota state budget and finances
The budget for the auditor's office for the 2023-25 biennium was $16,377,824.[6]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
The auditor is legally entitled to an annual salary in accordance with Title 54 of the North Dakota Century Code.
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $112,238, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2021
In 2021, the auditor received a salary of $110,582, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2020
In 2020, the auditor received a salary of $107,885, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2019
In 2019, the auditor received a salary of $105,770, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2018
In 2018, the auditor received a salary of $105,770, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2017
In 2017, the auditor received a salary of $105,770, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2016
In 2016, the auditor received a salary of $102,688, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2015
In 2015, the auditor received a salary of $99,698, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2014
In 2014, the auditor received a salary of $96,794, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2013
In 2013, the auditor received a salary of $93,071, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the North Dakota State Auditor has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms North Dakota State Auditor. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Office of the State Auditor
600 East Boulevard, Dept. 117
Bismarck, ND 58505
Phone: 701-328-2241
Email: Contact form
See also
| North Dakota | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Office of the State Auditor, "About Us," accessed Feb. 3, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 North Dakota Legislative Branch, "Constitution," accessed Feb. 3, 2021
- ↑ Office of the State Auditor, "About Joshua C. Gallion," accessed Feb. 3, 2021
- ↑ Justia, "Chapter 44-02," accessed Feb. 3, 2021
- ↑ Justia, "Chapter 54-10," accessed Feb. 3, 2021
- ↑ North Dakota Legislature, "68th Legislative Assembly State Budget Actions for the 2023-25 Biennium," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States," Sept. 30, 2020
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed Jan. 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed Jan. 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed December 3, 2017
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 4, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," January 27, 2014
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