HB 1288 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
13Feb2020... 0128h
2020 SESSION
20-2089
11/10
HOUSE BILL 1288
AN ACT relative to the form of a candidate's name on the official ballot in nonpartisan town elections.
SPONSORS: Rep. Cushing, Rock. 21; Rep. Edgar, Rock. 21; Rep. Bushway, Rock. 21; Rep. Janvrin, Rock. 37; Rep. Maggiore, Rock. 22; Sen. Levesque, Dist 12
COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill specifies the form that a candidate's name may take on a town election ballot when the town in which the candidate intends to run for office has adopted the nonpartisan ballot system. The bill also clarifies that the requirement that a candidate's surname be included on the ballot may not be waived.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
13Feb2020... 0128h
20-2089
11/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty
AN ACT relative to the form of a candidate's name on the official ballot in nonpartisan town elections.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Nominations; Nominations by Primary; Form of Candidate's Name on Ballot. 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 designated name may include the candidate's given name or a shortened form of the candidate's given name or a one-word nickname customarily related to the candidate, and by which the candidate is commonly recognized. The designated name may also include an initial for the first or middle name, or both. 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, that has an offensive or profane meaning, or that creates a perception of a professional or vocational affiliation, such as "Doc" or "Coach." No candidate may designate a name or nickname that includes characters other than the 26-letter English alphabet, a dash, an apostrophe, a period, or a comma. 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. The requirement that a candidate's surname be included on the ballot shall not be waived.
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 designated name may include the candidate's given name or a shortened form of the candidate's given name or a one-word nickname customarily related to the candidate, and by which the candidate is commonly recognized. The designated name may also include an initial for the first or middle name, or both. 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, that has an offensive or profane meaning, or that creates a perception of a professional or vocational affiliation, such as "Doc" or "Coach." No candidate may designate a name or nickname that includes characters other than the 26-letter English alphabet, a dash, an apostrophe, a period, or a comma. 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. The requirement that a candidate's surname be included on the ballot shall not be waived.
2 New Section; Form of Candidate's Name on Ballot; Nonpartisan Ballot System. Amend RSA 669 by inserting after section 19 the following new section:
669:19-a Form of Candidate's Name on Ballot; Nonpartisan Ballot System. Every candidate for town officer who intends to have his or her name printed upon the ballot shall designate in the declaration of candidacy the form in which the candidate's name shall be printed on the ballot. 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 customarily related to the candidate, and by which the candidate is commonly recognized. The designated name may also include an initial for the first or middle name, or both. 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, that has an offensive or profane meaning, or that creates a perception of a professional or vocational affiliation, such as "Doc" or "Coach." No candidate may designate a name or nickname that includes characters other than the 26-letter English alphabet, a dash, an apostrophe, a period, or a comma. 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. The requirement that a candidate's surname be included on the ballot shall not be waived.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 14, 2020 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 22, 2020 | House | Exec Session |
| House | Floor Vote | |
| Feb. 6, 2020 | House | Floor Vote |
| Feb. 13, 2020 | House | Floor Vote |
June 16, 2020: No Pending Motion; 06/16/2020 SJ 8
June 16, 2020: Vacated from Committee and Laid on Table, MA, VV; 06/16/2020 SJ 8
March 11, 2020: Introduced 03/11/2020 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 7
Feb. 13, 2020: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2020-0128h: MA VV 02/13/2020 HJ 3 P. 3
Feb. 13, 2020: Amendment # 2020-0128h: AA VV 02/13/2020 HJ 3 P. 3
: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2020-0128h (Vote 19-1; CC)
Feb. 6, 2020: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2020-0128h for 02/06/2020 (Vote 19-1; CC) HC 5 P. 3
Feb. 13, 2020: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2020-0128h for 02/13/2020 (Vote 19-1; CC) HC 5 P. 3
Jan. 22, 2020: Executive Session: 01/22/2020 01:30 pm LOB 301
Jan. 14, 2020: Public Hearing: 01/14/2020 09:30 am LOB 301
Jan. 8, 2020: Introduced 01/08/2020 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 1 P. 16