CHAPTER 66
HB 1240 – FINAL VERSION
05Mar2008… 0538h
2008 SESSION
03/05
HOUSE BILL 1240
AN ACT relative to disqualification of certain election officers and relative to arrangement of polling places.
This bill permits certain election officers whose names appear on the ballot to perform official duties other than handling marked ballots and counting votes. This bill also permits pens to be used in place of pencils at polling places.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
05Mar2008… 0538h
08-2381
03/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight
AN ACT relative to disqualification of certain election officers and relative to arrangement of polling places.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
66:1 Arrangement of Polling Place. Amend RSA 658:9, I to read as follows:
I. The selectmen of each town and ward shall provide for a suitable place in which to hold state elections and shall see that the same is warmed, lighted, and furnished with proper supplies and conveniences. Such supplies and conveniences shall include a ballot box and a sufficient number of pens with machine-readable ink or soft black lead pencils and booths with shelves to enable the voter to mark his or her ballot screened from all observation as to the manner in which he or she does so. Each place in which state elections are held shall be easily accessible as provided in RSA 658:9-a to all persons including persons with disabilities and elderly persons who are otherwise qualified to vote in the choice of any officer or officers to be elected or upon any question submitted at such election. The selectmen of each town and ward shall be charged with the responsibility to see that the flag of the United States is displayed inside and, weather conditions permitting, flown outside the polling place on election day. A guardrail shall be so constructed and placed so that only such persons as are inside such rail can approach within 6 feet of the ballot box and of the voting booths. The arrangements shall be such that the voting booths can be reached only by passing within the guardrail.
66:2 Disqualification of Certain Persons. Amend RSA 658:24 to read as follows:
658:24 Disqualification of Certain Persons. Any person, other than a moderator, clerk, selectman, inspector of election, or supervisor of the checklist, whose name appears on a ballot for an elective position, other than a position of an election official, shall be disqualified from performing duties as an election official in that election. A person so disqualified shall not be considered to have vacated any office but rather only to be absent therefrom. A temporary replacement shall be appointed as provided in RSA [658:19-658:22] 658:22. A moderator, clerk, selectman, inspector of election, or supervisor of the checklist whose name appears on a ballot for an elective position, other than the position of an election official, shall be disqualified from the handling of marked ballots and the counting of votes.
66:3 Effective Date.
I. Section 1 of this act shall take effect September 1, 2008 at 12:01 a.m.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Approved: May 21, 2008
Effective Date: I. Section 1 shall take effect September 1, 2008 at 12:01 a.m.
II. Remainder shall take effect July 20, 2008.