Revision: March 19, 2025, 11:19 a.m.
Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs
March 19, 2025
2025-1119s
08/05
Amendment to SB 222
Amend the bill by replacing all after section 7 with the following:
8 Certification; Nomination Papers. Amend RSA 655:41, I to read as follows:
I. Each nomination paper shall be submitted to the supervisors of the checklist of the town or ward in which the signer is domiciled or is registered, and a majority of the supervisors shall certify whether or not the signer is a registered voter in said town or ward. The supervisors of the checklist shall certify nomination papers under this section in a timely fashion, so that their certification shall be complete for each candidate, together with any objections to the nomination papers submitted, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Wednesday [2] 12 weeks before the state general election [primary]. Each nomination paper shall be submitted to the supervisors of the checklist no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Wednesday [5] 15 weeks before the [primary] state general election.
9 Filing Deadline; Nomination Papers. Amend RSA 655:43, I to read as follows:
I. [Nomination] A candidate shall file the required number of certified nomination papers [shall be filed] with the secretary of state no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Wednesday [one week before the primary] 11 weeks before the state general election. Nomination papers to be filed shall be grouped by municipality. No nomination papers shall be accepted by the secretary of state unless the candidate shall have met the age and domicile qualifications for the office he or she seeks at the time of the general election and meets all the other qualifications at the time of filing; and if a candidate for the office of governor, executive councilor, state senator, or state representative, unless the candidate shall file with the nomination papers an affidavit of qualifications as provided in RSA 655:28 and 655:29; and if a candidate for United States senator or United States representative, unless the candidate shall meet the qualifications for office under RSA 655:3 and 655:4.
10 Objections; Nomination Papers. Amend RSA 655:44 to read as follows:
655:44 Objections. Nomination papers made in accordance with the provisions of this chapter shall be regarded as valid and shall be received by the secretary of state unless objection thereto is made in writing no later than the Monday following the last day for the filing of such papers. The secretary of state shall notify the ballot law commission as required in RSA 665:6, II.
11 Session for Correction. Amend RSA 654:27 to read as follows:
654:27 Session for Correction. In cities and towns, the supervisors of the checklist shall be in session for the correction of the checklist at some suitable place in the city or town on a day designated by the supervisors which shall be 6 to 13 days prior to the election and upon which all hearings shall be finally closed; provided that whenever more than one meeting is required within a 21-day period, the first required meeting may serve to fulfill the requirements of the remaining meetings. All sessions for the correction of the checklist shall be for no less than 30 minutes and at the discretion of the supervisors for additional hours. Notice of the day, hour, and place of each session of the board of supervisors shall be given upon the checklists first posted in 2 appropriate places one of which shall be the city or town's Internet website, if such exists, or shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the city or town at least 7 days prior to each such session. The reconvening of any session which has been adjourned shall not require the publication of notice. Notwithstanding other provisions of RSA 654:27, the required sessions of the supervisors of the checklist on the evening before the opening of a candidate filing period shall be held.
12 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.