1 Preparation of Voting Materials; Electronic Ballot Counting Devices. Amend RSA 656:40 to read as follows:

656:40 Adoption .

The mayor and aldermen of any city or the selectmen of any town, subject to the approval of the ballot law commission, may authorize the use of one of the electronic ballot counting devices approved by the ballot law commission and the number of those devices used for the counting of ballots in such city or town for any regular or special election. The use of such device so authorized shall be valid for all purposes. Any town , or the mayor and aldermen of any city, may vote to lease or purchase electronic ballot counting devices approved by the ballot law commission for the elections held in said town or city. Any town, or the mayor and aldermen of any city, so acting shall notify the secretary of state of the action taken in regard to electronic ballot counting devices; and, after said action, electronic ballot counting devices shall be used in said town or city in accordance with said vote or authorization . If a special state election involving a state representative district occurs in a city or town that has adopted the provisions of RSA 656:40, the secretary of state may prepare and issue paper ballots which shall be used.

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

1 Preparation of Voting Materials; Electronic Ballot Counting Devices. Amend RSA 656:40 to read as follows:

656:40 Adoption or Rescission .

The mayor and aldermen of any city or the legislative body of any town, subject to the approval of the ballot law commission, may authorize or rescind the use of one of the electronic ballot counting devices approved by the ballot law commission and the number of those devices used for the counting of ballots in such city or town for any regular or special election. In a town that has adopted an official ballot, the official ballot shall be used for the question proposed at any annual or special meeting on the authorization or the rescission of the use of electronic ballot counting devices under this section. The wording of the question for authorizing such devices shall be: "Shall the town authorize the use of (number) electronic ballot counting devices for any regular and special elections?" The wording of the question for rescinding the use of such devices shall be: "Shall the town rescind the use of electronic ballot counting devices for any regular and special elections?" If the town has not adopted an official ballot, the clerk shall cause the same question to be printed upon special ballots which shall be used to determine the vote of the town. The use of such device so authorized shall be valid for all purposes. Any town authorized by the legislative body , or the mayor and aldermen of any city, may vote to lease or purchase electronic ballot counting devices approved by the ballot law commission for the elections held in said town or city. Any town, or the mayor and aldermen of any city, so acting shall notify the secretary of state of the action taken in regard to electronic ballot counting devices; and, after said action, electronic ballot counting devices shall be used in said town or city in accordance with said vote or authorization until such use is rescinded . If a special state election involving a state representative district occurs in a city or town that has adopted the provisions of RSA 656:40, the secretary of state may prepare and issue paper ballots which shall be used.

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