ND Doesn’t Need a “shelter-in-place” Order. Based on an Online Petition, It Seems Like Most North Dakotans Agree

In terms of civic engagement, they’re just about the least you could do. If you’re concerned about an issue, please do something more helpful than adding your name to an online petition.

Still, a recent Change.org petition urging Gov. Doug Burgum to “place a shelter-in-place order and do what’s best for our state” is revealing.

Though probably not in the way its organizers intended.

It was launched on Friday and has received attention from the news media around the state. Given that it’s subject matter is both an emotional plea and topical to a global pandemic currently impacting the lives of everyone in our state, if this call were tapping into some widespread public sentiment, you’d expect a strong response.