1 Recount; Tie Vote; School District Elections. Amend RSA 671:32, II to read as follows:

II. The board of recount shall be composed of the school district clerk, the school district moderator, and the members of the school board . The school district moderator shall be the chairperson of the board of recount; and

2 New Section; Conduct of Recount. Amend RSA 671 by inserting after section 32 the following new section:

671:32-a Conduct of Recount.

The recount applicant, and their assistants shall have the right to observe the ballot inspections and participate in the recount under such suitable rules as the moderator may adopt. Each recount applicant, or his or her designee shall have the right to protest the counting of or failure to count any ballot. The moderator shall thereupon rule on said ballot and shall attach thereto a memorandum stating such ruling and the name of the applicant making the protest. If, at any time during the counting of the ballots, a discrepancy appears in any ballot for any reason, the moderator shall suspend the recount until the discrepancy is resolved, at which time the moderator shall continue the recount. In no event shall a discrepancy result in a second recount application.

3 Board of Recount; Town Elections. Amend RSA 669:32 to read as follows:

669:32 Board of Recount. At the time and place so appointed and notified, the clerk shall publicly break the seal of and open the package in which the ballots of said election are kept; and, thereupon, said ballots shall be recounted by the clerk, the moderator, and the selectmen of said town who shall constitute the board of recount. When counting the ballots, the board of recount or their assistants shall visually inspect each ballot. No mechanical, optical, or electronic device shall be used for the counting of ballots. Any member of the board of recount who is one of the candidates for the office being recounted shall disqualify himself or herself from the board of recount for all official duties of said board. The moderator shall appoint an assistant who shall take the same oath as, serve in the same capacity as, and have all the powers of the recount official whom he or she has replaced.

4 New Section; Conduct of Recount. Amend RSA 669 by inserting after section 32 the following new section:

669:32-a Conduct of Recount.

The recount applicant, and their assistants shall have the right to observe the ballot inspections and participate in the recount under such suitable rules as the moderator may adopt. Each recount applicant, or his or her designee shall have the right to protest the counting of or failure to count any ballot. The moderator shall rule on said ballot and shall attach to such ballot a memorandum stating the ruling and the name of the applicant making the protest. If, at any time during the counting of the ballots, a discrepancy appears in any ballot for any reason, the moderator shall suspend the recount until the discrepancy is resolved, at which time the moderator shall continue the recount. Notwithstanding RSA 669:35, in no event shall a discrepancy result in a second recount application.

5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

1 Recount; Tie Vote; School District Elections. Amend RSA 671:32, II to read as follows:

II. The board of recount shall be composed of the school district clerk, the school district moderator, and the members of the select board of such town, and such assistants as the school moderator may require. Such assistants shall take the same oath as, serve in the same capacity as, and have all the powers of the recount officials . No member of the board of recount may be a candidate for office or have authority over the ballot warrant articles. The school district moderator shall be the chairperson of the board of recount; and

2 New Section; Conduct of Recount. Amend RSA 671 by inserting after section 32 the following new section:

671:32-a Conduct of Recount.

The recount applicant, and their assistants shall have the right to observe the ballot inspections and participate in the recount under such suitable rules as the moderator may adopt. Each recount applicant, or his or her designee shall have the right to protest the counting of or failure to count any ballot. The moderator shall thereupon rule on said ballot and shall attach thereto a memorandum stating such ruling and the name of the applicant making the protest. If, at any time during the counting of the ballots, a discrepancy appears in any ballot for any reason, the moderator shall suspend the recount until the discrepancy is resolved, at which time the moderator shall continue the recount. In no event shall a discrepancy result in a second recount application.

3 Board of Recount; Town Elections. Amend RSA 669:32 to read as follows:

669:32 Board of Recount. At the time and place so appointed and notified, the clerk shall publicly break the seal of and open the package in which the ballots of said election are kept; and, thereupon, said ballots shall be recounted by the board of recount. The board of recount shall be composed of the clerk, the moderator, the school board members of said town, and such assistants as the moderator may require. Such assistants shall take the same oath as, serve in the same capacity as, and have all the powers of the recount officials of said . When counting the ballots, the board of recount or their assistants shall visually inspect each ballot. No mechanical, optical, or electronic device shall be used for the counting of ballots. No member of the board of recount may be a candidate for office or have authority over the ballot warrant articles.

4 New Section; Conduct of Recount. Amend RSA 669 by inserting after section 32 the following new section:

669:32-a Conduct of Recount.

The recount applicant, and their assistants shall have the right to observe the ballot inspections and participate in the recount under such suitable rules as the moderator may adopt. Each recount applicant, or his or her designee shall have the right to protest the counting of or failure to count any ballot. The moderator shall rule on said ballot and shall attach to such ballot a memorandum stating the ruling and the name of the applicant making the protest. If, at any time during the counting of the ballots, a discrepancy appears in any ballot for any reason, the moderator shall suspend the recount until the discrepancy is resolved, at which time the moderator shall continue the recount. Notwithstanding RSA 669:35, in no event shall a discrepancy result in a second recount application.

5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.