CHAPTER 117
HB 1174 – FINAL VERSION
2006 SESSION
06/04
HOUSE BILL 1174
COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government
This bill requires that the voters requesting a secret ballot or a recount of a secret ballot must be present at the meeting.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
06-2212
06/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Six
AN ACT requiring that voters who request a secret ballot be present at the town meeting.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
117:1 Secret Ballot; Voters Present. Amend RSA 40:4-a to read as follows:
40:4-a Secret Ballot.
I.(a) At any meeting of a town with a population of more than 500, 5 voters who are present may make a request in writing prior to a vote by voice vote or division vote that the vote be taken by secret written ballot. Upon receiving such a request, the moderator shall conduct the vote by secret “yes-no” ballot.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, on the request of 5 voters who are present, the moderator shall conduct a recount on any vote taken by secret written ballot under subparagraph (a). The recount shall take place immediately following public announcement of the vote taken providing that the vote margin is not more than 10 percent of the total vote cast. There shall be no fee required for a recount under this section.
II. At any meeting of a town of a population 500 or less, 3 voters who are present may request secret balloting or recounting as provided in paragraph I.
117:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Approved: May 10, 2006
Effective: July 9, 2006