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1 New Paragraphs; Counting Ballots; Pause in Counting. Amend RSA 659:23 by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraphs:
III. The moderator of any polling place where the moderator believes that the ballot counting will extend beyond 12:00 a.m. may pause the ballot counting no earlier than 11:00 p.m. Vote counting shall resume the next morning at a time chosen by the moderator, at the same location, and shall continue until complete.
IV. The moderator shall announce the pause and when and where the process will resume.
V. All work-in-process documents shall be preserved, identified as to what they are, and kept on site. The moderator, collaborating with the select board or school board, shall ensure the ballots and associated materials are securely stored overnight, with no less than 2 election officials or one official and one police officer present the entire time.
VI. A chain of custody form published by the secretary of state shall be completed by the clerk and signed by the moderator, clerk, and all officials who were present overnight.
VII. Up to 5 members of the public may be present in the room where the ballots and materials are held, but outside the guardrails, for all or part of the overnight period. The election official(s) who are present may equitably rotate the observers into the room if six or more members of the public wish to observe the scene at the same time.
VIII. The select board or school board, as appropriate, shall have the scene recorded with time-stamped audio and video and, to the extent possible, live broadcast the scene on the governing body's website and a local cable channel, if one is available.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Text to be added highlighted in green.
1 New Paragraphs; Counting Ballots; Pause in Counting. Amend RSA 659:23 by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraphs:
III. The moderator of any polling place where the moderator believes that the ballot counting will extend beyond 12:00 a.m. may pause the ballot counting no earlier than 11:00 p.m. Vote counting shall resume the next morning at a time chosen by the moderator, at the same location, and shall continue until complete.
IV. The moderator shall announce the pause and when and where the process will resume.
V. All work-in-process documents shall be preserved, identified as to what they are, and kept on site. The moderator, collaborating with the select board or school board, shall ensure the ballots and associated materials are securely stored overnight, with no less than 2 election officials or one official and one police officer present the entire time.
VI. A chain of custody form published by the secretary of state shall be completed by the clerk and signed by the moderator, clerk, and all officials who were present overnight.
VII. Up to 5 members of the public may be present in the room where the ballots and materials are held, but outside the guardrails, for all or part of the overnight period. The election official(s) who are present may equitably rotate the observers into the room if six or more members of the public wish to observe the scene at the same time.
VIII. The select board or school board, as appropriate, shall have the scene recorded with time-stamped audio and video and, to the extent possible, live broadcast the scene on the governing body's website and a local cable channel, if one is available.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.