HB 146 – AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
06Mar2007… 0122h
2007 SESSION
03/01
HOUSE BILL 146
AN ACT relative to nicknames on ballots.
SPONSORS: Rep. Vaillancourt, Hills 15; Rep. D. Eaton, Ches 2
This bill limits the names that a candidate may designate for printing on ballots and eliminates requirements for the use of nicknames not related to the candidate’s given name.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
06Mar2007… 0122h
07-0668
03/01
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seven
AN ACT relative to nicknames on ballots.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
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 the declaration of candidacy, or on the primary petitions and assents to candidacy, the form in which 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 the candidate’s name shall be printed on the ballot, but the candidate shall not designate a deceptive name. If the candidate designates a nickname in place of or in combination with 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.] The designated name may include the candidate’s given name or a shortened form of the candidate’s given name or a one-word nickname by which the candidate is commonly recognized. The designated name may also include a middle initial. 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 the designation of the form in which 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 the declaration of intent the form in which 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 the candidate’s name shall be printed on the ballot, but the candidate shall not designate a deceptive name. If the candidate designates a nickname in place of or in combination with 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.] The designated name may include the candidate’s given name or a shortened form of the candidate’s given name or a one-word nickname by which the candidate is commonly recognized. The designated name may also include a middle initial. 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 the designation of the form in which the candidate’s name shall be printed on the ballot.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.