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, as recorded in the statewide voter registration system.

Additionally, the bill mandates that a specific question regarding the use of official ballot voting processes be included in the warrant for the first meeting. It also allows the secretary of state to designate a town as a polling place for state elections if they cannot appoint election officers due to a lack of qualified volunteers. The bill includes provisions for state assistance in cases where vacancies in local offices prevent an unorganized town or place from conducting elections. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 53:1