Rep. Bergeron, Hills. 29
Rep. Hamblet, Rock. 31
March 1, 2022
2022-0909h
10/08
Floor Amendment to HB 1264
Amend the title of the bill by replacing it with the following:
AN ACT enabling ranked-choice voting for state party primary elections and municipal elections.
Amend the bill by replacing section 8 with the following:
8 General Election; Canvas and Declaration. Amend RSA 659:81 to read as follows:
659:81 Canvass and Declaration Generally. Except as provided in RSA 659:82, when the secretary of state has received the returns for an office from all towns or wards comprising the elective district for that office, he or she shall examine, record and total such returns and shall declare elected to the office the same number of persons as the number of officers to which the district is entitled; provided that those persons declared officers-elect shall be those persons who received the highest number of votes cast for said office[.], or in a municipal election using ranked-choice voting the highest number of active preferences at the conclusion of counting by the ranked-choice method described in RSA 659:61-a through RSA 659:61-d.
Amend the bill by replacing section 11 with the following:
11 Applicability; Implementation.
I. The provisions for ranked choice voting outlined in sections 1-10 of this act shall take effect on January 1, 2023 with respect to state party primaries for state and federal office including the presidential primary, if state parties opt-in, and to municipal elections, if municipalities opt-in. Any state party or municipality may opt-in to the provisions for ranked choice voting without regard for whether any other state party or municipality also opts in. Any state party or municipality that seeks to opt-in to the provisions for ranked-choice voting shall do so at least 90 days before the first election in which such party or municipality seeks to utilize ranked choice voting by providing written notice to the New Hampshire secretary of state.
II. In the case of a state party, after official approval through appropriate party procedures, the party chair or designee shall provide such notice to the secretary of state. A state party may consider rescinding its action in the same manner, and if so rescinded, the party chair or designee shall notify the secretary of state at least 90 days before the next primary election, of the decision to rescind their opt-in.
III. Any town or city may implement ranked choice voting in the following manner:
(a) In a town, the question shall be placed on the warrant of an annual town meeting under the procedures set out in RSA 39:3, or by initiative petition or referendum petition if a town charter provides for such, and shall be voted on a ballot.
(b) In a city, the legislative body may vote to place the question on the official ballot for any special or regular municipal election, or, in the alternative, shall place the question on the official ballot for any municipal election upon submission to the legislative body of a petition signed by 5 percent of the registered voters.
(c) The selectmen or city council shall hold a public hearing on the question at least 15 days but not more than 30 days before the question is to be voted on. Notice of the hearing shall be posted in at least 2 public places in the municipality and published either in a newspaper of general circulation or the municipality's Internet website at least 7 days before the hearing.
(d) If one or more amendments to a municipal charter are necessary in order to implement ranked choice voting, the charter shall be amended as provided for in RSA 49-B:5.
IV. Once passed according to the applicable procedures outlined in subparagraphs III(a) – (d), ranked choice voting shall apply within the town or city beginning with the next municipal election, provided that a town or city designee notifies the New Hampshire secretary of state of their opt-in at least 90 days before said election.
V. A town or city may consider rescinding its action in the same manner, and if so rescinded, the city or town clerk shall notify the secretary of state at least 90 days before the next election, of the decision to rescind their opt-in.
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 13, 2022 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 13, 2022 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 23, 2022 | House | Exec Session |
| House | Floor Vote |
March 21, 2022: Remove from Table (Rep. Read): MF RC 116-219 03/16/2022 HJ 7
March 20, 2022: Lay HB1264 on Table (Rep. Baldasaro): MA DV 206-142 03/16/2022 HJ 7
March 9, 2022: Committee Report: Without Recommendation (Vote ; )
Feb. 23, 2022: Executive Session: 02/23/2022 11:00 a.m. LOB306-308
Jan. 8, 2022: Public Hearing: 01/13/2022 10:30 am LOB 306-308
Jan. 13, 2022: Public Hearing: 01/13/2022 10:30 a.m. LOB306-308
Nov. 19, 2021: Introduced 01/05/2022 and referred to Election Law