CHAPTER 22
HB 171 – FINAL VERSION
9Feb2005… 0096h
2005 SESSION
03/09
HOUSE BILL 171
AN ACT relative to nicknames on ballots.
SPONSORS: Rep. Marshall Quandt, Rock 13; Rep. Matthew Quandt, Rock 13; Rep. Soltani, Merr 8
This bill permits candidates to have nicknames by which they are known in the community printed on ballots.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
9Feb2005… 0096h
05-0335
03/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Five
AN ACT relative to nicknames on ballots.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
22:1 Form of Candidate’s Name on Ballot; Nicknames. Amend RSA 655:14-b, I-II to read as follows:
I. Every candidate for state or federal office who intends to have his or her name printed upon the ballot of any party for a primary shall designate in [his] the declaration of candidacy, or on [his] the primary petitions and assents to candidacy, the form in which [his] the candidate’s name shall be printed on the ballot. The candidate may designate his or her given, first, and middle name, the initials of his or her given, first, and middle name, a nickname, or any combination thereof as the form in which [his] the candidate’s name shall be printed on the ballot, but [he] the candidate shall not designate a deceptive name. If the candidate designates a nickname in place of or in combination with [his] the candidate’s given name or the initials thereof, the nickname shall be set off with quotation marks and shall be placed immediately before his or her surname. If the candidate designates a nickname, the nickname shall be customarily related to the candidate’s given name, or, if the nickname is not customarily related to the candidate’s given name, the candidate shall submit clear and convincing evidence that the candidate has been known by the nickname for at least the 5 years immediately preceding the time of filing. If deemed sufficient by the appropriate official, 3 affidavits from voters in the district who are not related to the candidate stating that the candidate has been known by the nickname for at least 5 years may constitute clear and convincing evidence. Nicknames shall be limited to one word, except for 2-word nicknames customarily related to the candidate’s given name. No candidate may designate a nickname that implies that the candidate is some other person, that constitutes a slogan or otherwise associates the candidate with a cause or issue, or that has an offensive or profane meaning. A candidate shall include his or her surname in [his] the designation of the form in which [his] the candidate’s name shall be printed on the ballot.
II. Every candidate for state or federal office who intends to have his or her name placed on the ballot for the state general election by means other than nomination by party primary shall designate in [his] the declaration of intent the form in which [his] the candidate’s name shall be printed on the ballot. The candidate may designate his or her given, first, and middle name, the initials of his or her given, first, and middle name, a nickname, or any combination thereof as the form in which [his] the candidate’s name shall be printed on the ballot, but [he] the candidate shall not designate a deceptive name. If the candidate designates a nickname in place of or in combination with [his] the candidate’s given name or the initials thereof, the nickname shall be set off with quotation marks and shall be placed immediately before his or her surname. If the candidate designates a nickname, the nickname shall be customarily related to the candidate’s given name, or, if the nickname is not customarily related to the candidate’s given name, the candidate shall submit clear and convincing evidence that the candidate has been known by the nickname for at least the 5 years immediately preceding the time of filing. If deemed sufficient by the appropriate official, 3 affidavits from voters in the district who are not related to the candidate stating that the candidate has been known by the nickname for at least 5 years may constitute clear and convincing evidence. Nicknames shall be limited to one word, except for 2-word nicknames customarily related to the candidate’s given name. No candidate may designate a nickname that implies that the candidate is some other person, that constitutes a slogan or otherwise associates the candidate with a cause or issue, or that has an offensive or profane meaning. A candidate shall include his or her surname in [his] the designation of the form in which [his] the candidate’s name shall be printed on the ballot.
22:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
(Approved: May 10, 2005)
(Effective Date: July 9, 2005)