A documentary crew will make North Dakota its Election Day centerpiece for an upcoming film about voting practices across the county.

Actress Kirsten Dunst - known for her roles in the "Spiderman" movies - will join the film crew in North Dakota that is part of an election reform group known as "Why Tuesday?"

They will interview Secretary of State Al Jaeger on Monday and follow a North Dakota farmer to his precinct on Tuesday.

The non-partisan organization's Web site, www.whytuesday.org, says the group aims to, "amplify the national debate around election reform by highlighting the problems with our voting system and the practical solutions we need."

The organization's Web site features interviews with political leaders, including both presidential candidates, about voting practices in the United States. Namely, why do Americans vote on Tuesdays?

Answer: An law passed 1845 made the first Tuesday in November Election Day so farmers had time to get to the polling place.

"Farmers needed a day to get to the county seat, a day to vote, and a day to get back, without interfering with the three days of worship," according to the group's Web site.

Jacob Soboroff, executive director of Why Tuesday, said the group chose to focus on North Dakota because it is the only state in the nation without voter registration.

"The reason why we want to go to North Dakota is because Election Day in North Dakota is different than anywhere in the United States," Soboroff said.

Sand wants ad pulled

Republican congressional challenger Duane Sand wants Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., to take down a television ad that says he wants privatizing Social Security.

Sand says the ad is false, which attributes his position to a 2000 interview he did on KFGO's Ed Schultz Show. Pomeroy's ad mistakenly cites the interview as taking place in 1999.

Pomeroy said his campaign isn't going to take down the ad.

"He called for privatizing Social Security and works for the group that that's one of their main agendas," Pomeroy said, referencing Americans for Prosperity, which Sand directed in North Dakota until he stepped down from the post in the spring.

Sand said he doesn't remember saying that he supported privatizing Social Security in the KFGO interview. Pomeroy said his campaign has a transcript of that interview from 2000.

"We're asking Earl Pomeroy to take his misleading ads off the air," said Matt Dabrowski, Sand's campaign manager. "Our elected officials must be held accountable for their campaigns' activities."

Election parties

The Democratic-NPL party and the GOP will hold election parties in Bismarck Tuesday night.

The Democrats will hold their party at the Elks Club, 900 S. Washington St. It starts at 6 p.m.

Democratic candidates for auditor, treasurer, Department of Public Instruction and lieutenant governor will attend, including North Dakota Democratic Sens. Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad.

The GOP will hold its party at the Doublewood Inn, 1400 E. Interchange Ave. It starts at 7 p.m.

All Republican statewide candidates will attend except Brian Kalk, who is running for the Public Service Commission and will be in Fargo.

Early voting in

Burleigh County

Voters in Burleigh County looking to cast an early ballot can do so at the City/County Building, 221 N. Fifth St., today and Monday.

The early voting precinct will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. It will be open on Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On Election Day, Tuesday, voters can find their precincts at www.nd.gov/sos and click on the "Where Do I Vote?" button. Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

(Reach reporter Brian Duggan at 223-8482 or brian.duggan@bismarcktribune.com.)