HB 665-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2015 SESSION
15-0713
03/10
HOUSE BILL 665-FN
AN ACT relative to nomination papers.
SPONSORS: Rep. Abramson, Rock 20; Rep. Leeman, Straf 23; Rep. Spillane, Rock 2; Rep. Marple, Merr 24; Rep. Tucker, Rock 23; Rep. Eastman, Hills 28
This bill changes the number of nominations required to get on the ballot and allows volunteer service to substitute for nomination papers.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
15-0713
03/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen
AN ACT relative to nomination papers.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Nomination by Nomination Papers. Amend RSA 655:41 to read as follows:
655:42 Number.
I. It shall require the names of [3,000] registered voters[, 1,500] equaling 1/10 of one percent of the total population of each United States congressional district, as determined by the most recent federal census, from each United States congressional district in the state, to nominate by nomination papers a candidate for president, United States senator, or governor or a political organization.
II. It shall require the names of [1,500 voters] registered voters equaling 1/10 of one percent of the total population, as determined by the most recent federal census, in the district to nominate by nomination papers a candidate for United States representative[; 750 to nominate a candidate for], councilor, [or] state senator[; and 150 to nominate a candidate for], state representative, or county officer.
III. [It shall require the names of registered voters equaling 3 percent of the total votes cast at the previous state general election to nominate by nomination papers a political organization.] For the purposes of this section, a political organization or candidate shall be credited for 5 signatures for each hour of volunteer service performed in New Hampshire. Proof of service shall be accepted in the form of a signed paper showing at least the number of hours, dates of service actually performed, and the name and phone number, or other contact information, of the person who is verifying that volunteer service was performed, or by any other means that the secretary of state accepts as proof.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LBAO
15-0713
Revised 02/10/15
HB 665-FN FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT relative to nomination papers.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of State states this bill, as introduced, may increase state general fund expenditures by $250,000 in FY 2017, and $187,500 in FY 2019. There will be no impact on county and local expenditures, or state, county, and local revenue.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of State states this bill reduces the number of nominations necessary for a political organization or candidate to get on the ballot, and allows volunteer service to substitute for nomination papers. The Department states that under current statute, a political organization needs to have garnered three percent of the total number of votes cast in the last general election in order to get on the ballot for the next election. With 495,453 ballots cast in 2014, a party organization would need 14,864 nomination petitions to qualify for ballot status in 2016. The Department states this bill will limit that number to approximately 1,300. The Department further states that with such a low threshold to qualify, multiple organizations could easily qualify for ballot status, resulting in additional pages to the state ballot and changes in ballot design. Assuming a cost of 25 cents per ballot page to lay out, print, pack, handle, and ship ballots, the Department anticipates the additional cost will be $250,000 to print one million ballots each presidential year, and $187,500 to print 750,000 ballots each non-presidential year.