This RSA section is an unofficial mirror, is not legal advice, and may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrectly processed.
RSA 669:1 · Election Dates
669:1 Election Dates. –
Copy linkAll towns shall hold an election annually for the election of town officers on the second Tuesday in March, 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.
Copy linkNotwithstanding the provisions of paragraph I of this section, any town which has adopted a municipal charter under the provisions of RSA 49-B:1-6 may establish the second Tuesday in March, the second Tuesday in May, or the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in odd-numbered years as the date for the election of town officers.
Copy linkAny local political subdivision which has not adopted RSA 40:13, the official ballot referendum form of meeting, but whose voting checklist comprises all or part of the checklist for a school district which has adopted an April or May election date under RSA 40:14, may, by vote of the legislative body, vote to coordinate its elections with the school district's elections and to hold its elections on the same April or May date as the school district. Such local political subdivision may, in addition, vote to hold the second session of its annual meeting, for transacting all business not required to be voted on by official ballot, within 2 weeks of the election date at a time and date determined by the governing body. The joint elections shall be held at a time and place determined by, and shall be supervised by, the election officials of the local political subdivision, coordinated as set forth in RSA 671:25 and RSA 671:26, with costs allocated in the same manner as in previous years or as may be mutually agreed upon by the governing bodies. A vote under this paragraph may be rescinded by the local political subdivision in like manner. No vote under this section shall take effect until the annual election next following such vote.
Copy link(a) If the National Weather Service issues a weather event warning applicable to a town on a date when an election is scheduled, which the moderator reasonably believes may cause the roads to be hazardous or unsafe, or if an accident, fire, natural disaster, or other emergency occurs that the moderator reasonably believes may render use of the election location unsafe on the date of the election, then the moderator may, after consulting with town officials, postpone the election. To the extent practical, prior to making a decision to postpone, the moderator shall consult with the governing body, the clerk, and as appropriate for the circumstances the police chief, the fire chief, the road agent, and the local emergency management director. The moderator shall document any decision to postpone the election and notify the secretary of state by phone or electronic mail of the postponement within 2 hours of the decision to postpone.
Copy linkWhen a ballot to be used at an election which has been postponed contains questions that are to be voted on simultaneously by more than one town, such as those relating to village, school, or water districts, the postponement of an election shall apply to all towns voting on that issue at the election. The moderators of the towns involved, after consultation with respective town officials, shall communicate with each other to reach a consensus on the postponement. In such instances, one of the moderators shall be selected to document the communications and notify the secretary of state. If a consensus cannot be reached, the election shall be postponed if a majority of the moderators vote to postpone.
Copy linkThe decision to postpone shall be made on the day immediately prior to the election at any time before 6:00 p.m.
Copy linkIf the moderator postpones the town election as provided in this paragraph, the moderator shall document the decision and notify the secretary of state by telephone or electronic mail of the postponement within 2 hours of the decision to postpone.
Copy linkIf a special state election is scheduled for the date of the town election, this section shall not apply. Source. 1979, 410:1. 1987, 299:6. 1988, 223:12. 1991, 370:7. 2000, 16:9, 10, eff. April 30, 2000. 2019, 192:7, eff. July 10, 2019.
Copy linkSource note
Source. 1979, 410:1. 1987, 299:6. 1988, 223:12. 1991, 370:7. 2000, 16:9, 10, eff. April 30, 2000. 2019, 192:7, eff. July 10, 2019.
Source history
- 1979, 410:1
- 1987, 299:6
- 1988, 223:12
- 1991, 370:7
- 2000, 16:9, 10, eff. April 30, 2000
- 2019, 192:7, eff. July 10, 2019
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2026 HB1107
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cribed in paragraph II, shall not begin until that next annual meeting, and shall be by official ballot if the municipality has adopted the official ballot system, as set forth in RSA 669. [IV.] V. A town or district which has adopted this subdivision may vote at any subsequent annual meeting to change the number or manner of selection of its members-at-large or change the number of its alternate member
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2026 HB1107
reference
itial members for one-year terms by means other than by official ballot, or shall authorize the moderator to appoint members to serve until the next annual meeting, as provided in RSA 669:17. Elections for staggered terms, as described in paragraph II, shall not begin until that next annual meeting, and shall be by official ballot if the municipality has adopted the official ballot system, as set forth in RS
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2026 HB1125
amend
ment provide for the election of cooperative school board members pursuant to this chapter, said election shall be with the use of the [non-partisan] official ballot system under [RSA 669] RSA 671. 7 Public Officers and Employees; Access to Governmental Records and Meetings; Meetings Open to Public. Amend RSA 91-A:2, I(c) to read as follows: (c) A caucus consisting of elected members of a public b
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2026 HB1125
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elected on a partisan basis at a state general election or elected on a partisan basis by a town, school district, or city which has adopted a partisan ballot system pursuant to [RSA 669:12 or RSA 44:2] RSA 44:2, 671:30-b, or 669:12; or 8 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage. HELPFUL LINKS Redistricting Information Ethics Committee Statutory/Study Committees Voting Reco
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2026 HB1125
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-partisan town election shall apply to school district elections. For school districts which have adopted a partisan ballot system pursuant to RSA 671:30-a, all the provisions of RSA 669:18 and RSA 669:22 relative to filing for office and withdrawal of candidacy for a partisan town election shall apply to school district elections. In both non-partisan and partisan ballot systems, [except that in those st
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2026 HB1125
amend
lections. Amend RSA 671:19 to read as follows: 671:19 Filing. [All] For all districts which have adopted a non-partisan ballot system pursuant to RSA 671:30, the provisions of RSA 669:19-669:22 relative to filing for office and withdrawal of candidacy for a non-partisan town election shall apply to school district elections. For school districts which have adopted a partisan ballot system pursuant to RSA 6
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2026 HB1213
amend
favor of the question, the changes will take effect at the next annual meeting after the vote of approval. 3 New Paragraph; Officers Elected; Officers Who May Be Elected. Amend RSA 669:17 by inserting after paragraph VIII-a the following new paragraph: VIII-b Elected highway agents (RSA 231:62-a). 4 Repair of Highways by Towns; Expert Agent. Amend RSA 231:64 to read as follows: 231:64 Expert Age
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2026 HB1272
add
669 by inserting after section 13 the following new section: 669:13-a Party Affiliation on the Official Ballot. I. Any town that has adopted an official ballot system under RSA 669:12 or RSA 669:13 may vote to include on the official ballot each candidate’s party affiliation after the candidate’s name, unless waived by the candidate, under an article in the warrant for any town meeting. The town cle
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2026 HB1272
reference
e to be printed on the official ballot the question, "Shall the official ballot contain the party affiliation of each candidate, appearing after each candidate’s name, pursuant to RSA 669:13-a, I?”, which question shall be followed by boxes in which the voter may indicate "Yes" or "No". If the majority of the qualified voters present and voting at such meeting shall answer said question in the affirmative, t
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2026 HB1272
add
ing after section 13 the following new section: 669:13-a Party Affiliation on the Official Ballot. I. Any town that has adopted an official ballot system under RSA 669:12 or RSA 669:13 may vote to include on the official ballot each candidate’s party affiliation after the candidate’s name, unless waived by the candidate, under an article in the warrant for any town meeting. The town clerk shall cause
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2026 HB1272
amend
Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Party Affiliation on the Official Ballot; Ballot Systems; Town Elections. Amend RSA 669 by inserting after section 13 the following new section: 669:13-a Party Affiliation on the Official Ballot. I. Any town that has adopted an official ballot system under RSA 669:12 or RSA 669:13 may vote to include
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2026 HB1319
reference
means other than by official ballot. Upon a favorable vote under RSA 41:69, III(b)(1), the moderator shall appoint members to serve until the next annual meeting, as provided in RSA 669:17. Upon a favorable vote under RSA 41:69, III(b)(2), initial members shall be elected at the next annual meeting, as provided in RSA 669:17. The staggering of elected terms shall begin at the next annual meeting, with one
Opinions and discipline decisions mentioning this RSA
- 2001-635, TOWN OF HOOKSETT v. SIDNEY BAINES & a. Supreme Court opinion · December 12, 2002