SB 116 - AS INTRODUCED

1999 SESSION

SENATE BILL 116

AN ACT eliminating straight ticket voting.

SPONSORS: Sen. J. King, Dist 18; Sen. Hollingworth, Dist 23; Sen. Trombly, Dist 7; Rep. Dwyer, Hills 43

COMMITTEE: Public Affairs

ANALYSIS

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine

AN ACT eliminating straight ticket voting.

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

1 Removing Instructions to Voters on Ballot for Straight Ticket Voting. RSA 659:17 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

659:17 Instructions to Voters.

I. The secretary of state shall provide on the top of the general election ballot the following voting instructions: "Vote for the candidate of your choice for each office by making the appropriate mark. Follow directions as to the number of candidates to be elected to each office."

II. A voter may vote for a candidate in a state general election, or in a state or presidential primary election, by making the appropriate mark for the name of each candidate for whom the voter wishes to vote. A voter desiring to vote for a candidate whose name is not printed on the ballot shall write in the name of the person for whom the voter desires to vote in the space provided for that purpose.

2 Repeal. The following are repealed:

I. RSA 656:10, relative to straight ticket voting.

II. RSA 656:11, relative to party emblem.

III. RSA 659:66, relative to counting straight party votes.

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