HB1224: relative to election dates.

HB 1224 - AS INTRODUCED

2018 SESSION

18-2128

03/06

HOUSE BILL HB 1224

AN ACT relative to election dates.

SPONSORS: Rep. Manley, Hills. 3; Rep. Porter, Hills. 1; Rep. McNamara, Hills. 38; Sen. Woodburn, Dist 1

COMMITTEE: Election Law

ANALYSIS

This bill authorizes the moderator to postpone and reschedule a town election because of a weather emergency.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

18-2128

03/06

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eighteen

AN ACT relative to election dates.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Duties of Moderator. Amend RSA 40:4, II to read as follows:

II. In the event a weather emergency occurs on or before the date of a deliberative session or [voting day] second session of a meeting in a town or a town election, which the moderator reasonably believes may cause the roads to be hazardous or unsafe, the moderator may, up to 2 hours prior to the scheduled session or election, postpone and reschedule the deliberative session or [voting day] second session of the meeting or the town election to another reasonable date, place, and time certain. The date originally scheduled shall continue to be deemed the deliberative session or [voting day] second session of the meeting or election day for purposes of satisfying statutory meeting or election date requirements; provided, that in towns or districts that have adopted RSA 40:13, the postponement shall not delay the deliberative session more than 72 hours. The moderator shall employ whatever means are available to inform citizens of the postponement and the rescheduled deliberative session, second session, or [voting] election day.

2 Election Dates. Amend RSA 669:1, I to read as follows:

I. All towns shall hold an election annually for the election of town officers on the second Tuesday in March, except as provided in RSA 40:4, II and except those towns which have adopted an alternative date under RSA 40:14 or those towns which have adopted the provisions of RSA 31:94-a and have, by majority vote at a previous town meeting, decided to elect officers on the second Tuesday in May.

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