This bill allows school districts in the state to decide whether to adopt partisan elections for school district officers. It amends existing laws to clarify the procedures for both non-partisan and partisan elections, specifically detailing the filing process for candidates and the preparation of ballots. The bill introduces new sections that outline the requirements for cooperative school districts that choose to implement a partisan ballot system, including the responsibilities of political party clerks and the process for combining votes from multiple towns.

Key changes include the insertion of provisions that allow school districts to adopt a partisan ballot system under specific conditions, as well as the deletion of references to a strictly non-partisan system. The bill also establishes a method for rescinding the partisan ballot system if a district chooses to revert to a non-partisan system. Additionally, it updates the language in various sections to ensure that references to towns and town clerks are appropriately replaced with school districts and school district clerks, thereby aligning the election processes with the new partisan framework. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 671:19, 671:20, 671:30, 195:19-a
As Amended by the House: 671:19, 671:20, 671:30, 195:19-a, 91-A:2
Version adopted by both bodies: 671:19, 671:20, 671:30, 195:19-a, 91-A:2