State desk
Ranks 27th of 50 on the Liberty Index.
Where North Dakota stands on 12 policies, sourced from our 50-state trackers, with the latest headlines from 6 North Dakota outlets.
12 policies · each strip is all 50 states, grouped by rule · North Dakota in red. Free to cite with attribution.
Residents may carry concealed without a permit; non-residents need a permit, and optional permits aid reciprocity.
North Dakota is 1 of 29 states with this rule
15 · Shall-Issue Permit6 · Restrictive: Permit Required
North Dakota taxes individual income at graduated rates rising to 2.50 percent across 2 brackets, the joint-lowest top rate in the country.
North Dakota is 1 of 26 states with this rule
8 · No Income Tax1 · Capital Gains Only15 · Single Flat Rate
North Dakota charges 23.03 cents per gallon in state tax, ranking 42 of 50, which is among the lowest in the country. With the federal 18.40 cents added, a driver pays 41.43 cents per gallon in tax. Diesel is taxed at 23.03 cents.
North Dakota is 1 of 17 states with this rule
17 · Among the Highest16 · Near the Middle
Abolished in 1973.
North Dakota is 1 of 23 states with this rule
23 · Retains the death penalty4 · Retains it, executions paused
Right-to-work by statute (initiated measure) since 1947.
North Dakota is 1 of 26 states with this rule
24 · No Right-to-Work Law
State minimum wage matches the federal rate at $7.25.
North Dakota is 1 of 12 states with this rule
30 · Above the Federal Floor3 · Below Federal, So Federal Applies5 · No State Minimum Wage Law
Voters must present an ID document that need not have a photo; without it, a provisional ballot requires later follow-up.
North Dakota is 1 of 4 states with this rule
10 · Strict Photo ID14 · Photo ID Requested8 · ID Requested (No Photo)14 · No Document Required
No active program; the governor vetoed a universal ESA bill in 2025.
North Dakota is 1 of 17 states with this rule
17 · Universal / Near-Universal16 · Limited Program
NCSL lists North Dakota among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages.
North Dakota is 1 of 31 states with this rule
7 · Recognized by Court Decision12 · Not Listed by NCSL
Any voter may request a mail ballot without a reason; counties may conduct elections by mail.
North Dakota is 1 of 29 states with this rule
8 · All-Mail13 · Excuse Required
North Dakota's unemployment rate was 2.2% in September 2026, seasonally adjusted, unchanged from August. It ranks 2nd lowest of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.). A year earlier, in September 2025, it was 2.6%. The U.S. rate was 4.2%.
Data retrieved from the BLS public API on October 30, 2026. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.
Elected statewide to a four-year term.
North Dakota is 1 of 43 states with this rule
5 · Appointed by the governor1 · Chosen by the legislature1 · Appointed by the state supreme court