Revision: May 28, 2025, 10:34 a.m.
Rep. Berry, Hills. 44
Rep. Lane, Merr. 16
Rep. Muirhead, Graf. 12
Rep. Qualey, Ches. 18
May 21, 2025
2025-2326h
07/09
Amendment to SB 215
Amend the title of the bill by replacing it with the following:
AN ACT establishing voting procedures for electing town officers in unorganized towns or places.
Amend the bill by replacing section 1 with the following:
1 Elections; Unincorporated Places; Establishing Procedures for Voting. RSA 668:6 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
668:6 Establishing Procedures for Voting.
I. The secretary of state or designee shall issue a warrant, post the warrant in the manner required for towns by RSA 39:5, give other public notice, appoint a pro tem moderator and clerk from among the registered voters, and oversee the first election of officers for an unorganized town or unincorporated place for the purpose of conducting local, county, state, and federal elections, pursuant to RSA 53:1. This initial election shall be conducted using the unofficial ballot process as set forth in RSA 669:54 through RSA 669:60. The secretary of state shall exercise this authority whenever the number of voters domiciled in an unorganized town or unincorporated place which has not organized for voting pursuant to RSA 53:1, as recorded in the statewide voter registration system, reaches 100 or more voters.
II. The following question shall be included in the warrant for the first meeting and shall be voted on at that meeting:
“Shall (insert name of the unorganized town or unincorporated place), when electing the officers who will conduct future elections, use an official ballot voting process in the same manner as a town as specified in RSA 669:19 through RSA 669:29? A “no” vote is a vote to use the unofficial ballot process in the same manner as a town as specified in RSA 669:54 through RSA 669:60 (nominations from the floor and voting at a meeting).”
III. Notwithstanding RSA 53:1, III, if the secretary of state is unable to appoint pro tem election officers and oversee a local election held at least 90 days prior to a state election due to a lack of suitable qualified volunteers, the secretary may designate a town as the polling place for the upcoming state elections in accordance with RSA 668:2.
IV. The secretary of state may exercise the authority authorized by this section if notified that vacancies in local offices for an unorganized town or unincorporated place result in the town or place being unable to organize and conduct their next election without state assistance.
2025-2326h
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill establishes voting procedures for electing town officers in unorganized towns or places.