The inspector or one of the election judges shall deliver ballots to the qualified electors. The inspector or judge delivering the paper ballot shall inform each elector that if the ballot is not initialed by an election official it will be invalidated and to protect the elector's right to vote the elector should verify that the ballot has been initialed. Before delivering any paper ballot to an elector, the inspector or judge shall initial the ballot. Failure to initial a paper ballot in the proper place does not invalidate the ballot, but a complete failure to initial a paper ballot does invalidate the ballot.
N.D.C.C. § 16.1-13-22