Revision: Sept. 25, 2023, 11:05 a.m.
2024 SESSION
24-2045.0
08/05
HOUSE BILL [bill number]
AN ACT relative to partisan school district elections.
SPONSORS: [sponsors]
COMMITTEE: [committee]
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ANALYSIS
This bill enables school districts to adopt partisan elections.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
24-2045.0
08/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
AN ACT relative to partisan school district elections.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Filing; School District Elections. Amend RSA 671:19 to read as follows:
671:19 Filing. For all districts which have adopted a non-partisan ballot system pursuant to RSA 671:30, [All] the provisions of RSA 669:19-669:22 relative to filing for office and withdrawal of candidacy for a non-partisan town election shall apply to school district elections. For school districts which have adopted a partisan ballot system pursuant to RSA 671:30-a, all the provisions of RSA 669:18 and RSA 669:22 relative to filing for office and withdrawal of candidacy for a partisan town election shall apply to school district elections. In both non-partisan and partisan ballot systems, [except that in those statutes] where there is a reference to a town or a town clerk in the referenced statutes, it shall be read to refer to a school district or a school district clerk.
2 Preparation of Ballots; By School District Clerk. Amend RSA 671:20 to read as follows:
671:20 By School District Clerk. The school district clerk shall prepare ballots for school district elections in the same manner as town clerks for non-partisan or partisan town elections, as provided in RSA 669:23 and 669:24, except that the ballot shall be of a different color than any other ballot used at the election.
3 Non-Partisan Ballot System; Conduct of Election; Elections at School District Meeting. Amend RSA 671:30 to read as follows:
671:30 Non-Partisan Ballot System. Every school district in the state, except one having a special statute relative to election of its district offices, or one that has adopted a partisan ballot system pursuant to RSA 671:30-a, shall use the non-partisan ballot system for the election of district officers, in the same manner as in towns as provided in RSA 669:19-669:25, except that all references to towns or town clerks shall be read to refer to school districts or school district clerks.
4 New Sections; Partisan Ballot System. Amend RSA 671 by inserting after section 30 the following new sections:
671:30-a Partisan Ballot System. Every school district in the state that has adopted a partisan ballot system pursuant to RSA 671:30-b, shall use the partisan ballot system for the election of district officers, in the same manner as in towns as provided in RSA 669:18, RSA 669:22 through RSA 669:29, and RSA 669:37 through RSA 669:53, except that all references to towns or town clerks shall be read to refer to school districts or school district clerks. A plurality shall elect in school districts using the partisan ballot system.
671:30-b Partisan Official Ballot System; Method of Adoption. Any school district may vote to adopt the partisan official ballot system for election of school district officers under an article in the warrant for any school district meeting, and may rescind such action in like manner. The partisan ballot system shall not be in effect until the school district election first following the school district meeting at which such system is adopted. A plurality shall elect in school districts using the partisan ballot system.
5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.