This bill establishes new voting procedures for electing town officers in unorganized towns or places. It repeals and reenacts RSA 668:6, which outlines the responsibilities of the secretary of state or their designee in overseeing the first election of officers in these areas. The secretary is required to issue a warrant, post it publicly, appoint a pro tem moderator and clerk from registered voters, and conduct the initial election using the unofficial ballot process. This process will be initiated when the number of voters in an unorganized town or unincorporated place reaches 100 or more. Additionally, the bill mandates that a specific question regarding the future use of official ballot voting processes be included in the warrant for the first meeting.

Furthermore, the bill includes provisions for situations where the secretary of state cannot appoint election officers due to a lack of qualified volunteers, allowing for the designation of a town as the polling place for upcoming state elections. It also allows the secretary to intervene if vacancies in local offices prevent an unorganized town or place from conducting their next election. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage, with an effective date of September 13, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 53:1