HB 351 – AS INTRODUCED
2013 SESSION
03/05
HOUSE BILL 351
AN ACT relative to appointment of inspectors of election.
SPONSORS: Rep. Hoelzel, Rock 3
This bill authorizes town and city clerks to appoint inspectors of election; inspectors are currently appointed by political parties. This bill also changes the start date for inspectors’ term of office.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
13-0486
03/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Thirteen
AN ACT relative to appointment of inspectors of election.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Inspectors of Election; Appointment. Amend RSA 658:2 to read as follows:
658:2 Appointment. Each town and [ward political committee of the 2 political parties which cast the largest number of votes for governor in the state at the last previous general election] city clerk is authorized to appoint between [September] August 15 and [October] September 15 of each general election year [2] 4 inspectors of election to act at each polling place. If the number of voters qualified to vote at a polling place shall exceed 2,000, [said political committees] the clerk may [each] appoint for such polling place [one] 2 additional [inspector] inspectors for each 1,500 qualified voters or fraction thereof in excess of 2,000. The town and [ward political committees] city clerks may also appoint such additional inspectors, [equally divided between said 2 political parties,] as the moderator considers necessary for the efficient conduct of the election. On or before [October] September 15, the [chairmen of said political committees] clerk shall notify the appointees [and the town or ward clerk and city clerk concerned] as to appointments made under this authority. [If any such appointments are not made by said political committees and proper notification thereof given on or before October 15, then the appointments shall be made by the selectmen of the town or ward in equal numbers from said 2 political parties.]
2 Inspectors of Election; Term. Amend RSA 658:4 to read as follows:
658:4 Oath; Term. Each inspector of election shall be sworn to the faithful performance of his or her duties and shall hold office for 2 years from [November] October 1 in the year in which he or she is appointed or until a successor is appointed and qualified.
3 Inspectors of Election; Alternates. Amend RSA 658:5 to read as follows:
658:5 Alternates. In making appointments of inspectors of elections as provided in RSA 658:2, town and [ward political committees or town and ward selectmen] city clerks may designate a list of alternates, who shall meet the same qualifications as inspectors of elections, to be called in numerical order to serve in case one or more of the principal appointees fails to accept the appointment or is otherwise unavailable to perform his or her duties.
4 Designation of Ballot Clerks. Amend RSA 658:25 to read as follows:
658:25 Designation of Ballot Clerks. Two of the inspectors[, one from each of the 2 political parties,] shall be designated by the moderator at the opening of the polls to act as ballot clerks. They shall have charge of the ballots and shall furnish them to the voters. They shall be given a duplicate copy of the checklist by the town or ward clerk. The other inspectors shall be assigned such duties in the polling place as the moderator may determine including, but not limited to, the relief of the ballot clerks and the assistance of voters marking their ballots as provided in RSA 659:20.
5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.