CHAPTER 141
HB 480 – FINAL VERSION
27Mar2007… 0640h
2007 SESSION
03/10
HOUSE BILL 480
AN ACT relative to party columns listing names on ballots.
SPONSORS: Rep. Whalley, Belk 5; Rep. Hess, Merr 9; Sen. Downing, Dist 22; Sen. Burling, Dist 5
This bill requires the staggering of names of certain candidates within the party columns on general election ballots. This bill also eliminates the requirement that the first column contain the candidates of the party receiving the largest number of votes at the last election.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
27Mar2007… 0640h
07-0993
03/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seven
AN ACT relative to party columns listing names on ballots.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
141:1 Party Columns. Amend RSA 656:5 to read as follows:
656:5 Party Columns. The names of all candidates nominated in accordance with the election laws shall be arranged upon the state general election ballot in successive party columns. Each separate column shall contain the names of the candidates of one party; except that, if only a part of a full list of candidates is nominated by a political party, 2 or more such lists may be arranged whenever practicable in the same column. [The first column shall contain the names of the candidates of the party which received the largest number of votes at the last preceding state general election.] The party columns that list the names of candidates for offices that elect more than one person shall stagger the names of the candidates so that they do not line up evenly in a horizontal direction. The left-most column shall begin one line below the column to its right. The secretary of state shall determine the location of any additional columns that may appear on the ballot.
141:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Approved: June 18, 2007
Effective: August 17, 2007