Bill Text: NH SB274 | 2014 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Relative to the form of a candidate's name on a ballot.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2014-06-16 - Signed by the Governor on 06/11/2014; Chapter 0112; Effective 08/10/2014 [SB274 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2014-SB274-Chaptered.html
CHAPTER 112
SB 274 – FINAL VERSION
02/06/14 0312s
16Apr2014… 1376h
2014 SESSION
03/05
SENATE BILL 274
AN ACT relative to the form of a candidate’s name on a ballot.
SPONSORS: Sen. Boutin, Dist 16; Rep. Fields, Belk 4
COMMITTEE: Public and Municipal Affairs
This bill requires that a name or nickname on a ballot not include characters other than the 26-letter English alphabet, a dash, an apostrophe, a period, or a comma.
This bill was requested by the department of state.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
02/06/14 0312s
16Apr2014… 1376h
14-2713
03/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fourteen
AN ACT relative to the form of a candidate’s name on a ballot.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
112:1 Form of Candidate’s Name on Ballot. Amend RSA 655:14-b to read as follows:
655:14-b Form of Candidate’s Name on Ballot.
I. Every candidate for state or federal office who intends to have his or her name printed upon the ballot of any party for a primary shall designate in the declaration of candidacy, or on the primary petitions and assents to candidacy, the form in which the candidate’s name shall be printed on the ballot. The designated name may include the candidate’s given name or a shortened form of the candidate’s given name or a one-word nickname customarily related to the candidate, and by which the candidate is commonly recognized. The designated name may also include an initial for the first or middle name, or both. No candidate may designate a nickname that implies that the candidate is some other person, that constitutes a slogan or otherwise associates the candidate with a cause or issue, that has an offensive or profane meaning, or that creates a perception of a professional or vocational affiliation, such as “Doc” or “Coach.” No candidate may designate a name or nickname that includes characters other than the 26-letter English alphabet, a dash, an apostrophe, a period, or a comma. A candidate shall include his or her surname in the designation of the form in which the candidate’s name shall be printed on the ballot.
II. Every candidate for state or federal office who intends to have his or her name placed on the ballot for the state general election by means other than nomination by party primary shall designate in the declaration of intent the form in which the candidate’s name shall be printed on the ballot. The designated name may include the candidate’s given name or a shortened form of the candidate’s given name or a one-word nickname customarily related to the candidate, and by which the candidate is commonly recognized. The designated name may also include an initial for the first or middle name, or both. No candidate may designate a nickname that implies that the candidate is some other person, that constitutes a slogan or otherwise associates the candidate with a cause or issue, that has an offensive or profane meaning, or that creates a perception of a professional or vocational affiliation, such as “Doc” or “Coach.” No candidate may designate a name or nickname that includes characters other than the 26-letter English alphabet, a dash, an apostrophe, a period, or a comma. A candidate shall include his or her surname in the designation of the form in which the candidate’s name shall be printed on the ballot.
III. A candidate who files more than one declaration of candidacy or declaration of intent shall designate the same form of his or her name to appear on each such declaration. The same form of a candidate’s name shall also appear on every primary petition and assent to candidacy.
IV. If the appropriate official with whom the declaration of candidacy, declaration of intent, primary petitions, or assents to candidacy are filed does not accept them and returns them to the candidate because in the opinion of the official they do not conform to the provisions of this section, the candidate may appeal to the ballot law commission as provided in RSA 665:9.
112:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Approved: June 11, 2014
Effective Date: August 10, 2014
