TITLE LXIII
ELECTIONS

Chapter 663
QUESTIONS TO VOTERS

General Provisions

Section 663:1

    663:1 Form on Ballot; Tabulation; Results; Etc. – The questions to voters provided for in this chapter may be submitted on the ballot at any state election. Except as provided in RSA 663:2, questions submitted on the state general election ballot shall be printed on the ballot beneath the offices column in the form provided for in RSA 656:13. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the vote on questions to voters shall be counted and returns made in as nearly as practicable the same manner as that provided in RSA 659.

Source. 1979, 436:1. 1994, 309:12, eff. June 8, 1994.

Constitutional Amendments

Section 663:2

    663:2 Form of Submission of Question. – The question of whether to approve a proposed constitutional amendment shall be submitted to the vote of the people by ballot. A constitutional question may, at the direction of the constitutional convention, be printed on the ballot at any state election or may be printed on a separate ballot to be used at a state election or at another election as directed by the constitutional convention.

Source. 1979, 436:1, eff. July 1, 1979.

Section 663:3

    663:3 Form of Ballot. – The following words shall be printed above the constitutional amendment questions on all ballots containing such questions: "Questions Relating to Constitutional Amendments Proposed by the Convention to Revise the Constitution" or "Questions Relating to Constitutional Amendments Proposed by the Legislature to Revise the Constitution," whichever is appropriate. A constitutional question shall include, in the text of the question, the text of the article of the constitution as it is proposed to be amended, and the results of the vote taken on ordering the proposed amendment to third reading in both the senate and the house of representatives or at the constitutional convention, whichever is appropriate.

Source. 1979, 436:1. 1999, 67:1. 2013, 231:2, eff. Sept. 13, 2013.

Section 663:3-a

    663:3-a Voter's Guides. –
I. If the general court proposes the constitutional amendment, the text of the statement for the voter's guide, if any, shall be included in the resolution proposing the constitutional amendment. The joint committee on legislative facilities may authorize the printing or distribution of the voter's guide.
II. If the constitutional convention proposes the constitutional amendment, the text of the statement for the voter's guide, if any, shall be included in the resolution proposing the constitutional amendment.

Source. 1999, 67:2. 2013, 231:1, eff. Sept. 13, 2013.

Section 663:4

    663:4 Result; Publication; Effective Date. – A constitutional convention shall provide for notice of the result of the vote on a proposed constitutional amendment by proclamation by the governor; and, if the result is affirmative, the proclamation shall mark the time the amendment goes into effect, unless otherwise provided by the convention.

Source. 1979, 436:1, eff. July 1, 1979.

Liquor Sales

Section 663:5

    663:5 Question; Vote; Results. –
I. Upon petition of not less than 5 percent of the legal voters of any city or town filed with the secretary of state not earlier than the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday in August and no later than the first Friday in September before a state general election, the following questions shall be submitted to the voters of such city or town on the usual ballot at such state election:
(a) "Shall state stores be operated by permission of the state liquor commission in this city or town?"
(b) "Shall malt beverages (beer) be sold by permission of the state liquor commission in this city or town?"
(c) "Shall wines containing not less than 6 percent nor more than 15.5 percent of alcoholic content by volume at 60 degrees Fahrenheit (table wine) be sold by permission of the state liquor commission in this city or town?"
(d) "Shall liquor be sold for consumption on the premises where sold by permission of the state liquor commission in this city or town?"
II. If a majority of the qualified voters present and voting in a city or town signifies the disapproval of question (a) above, the commission shall not operate state liquor stores in that city or town.
III. If a majority of the qualified voters present and voting in a city or town signifies the disapproval of question (b) above, then the commission shall not issue licenses or permits for the sale of malt beverages in that city or town.
IV. If a majority of the qualified voters present and voting in a city or town signifies the disapproval of question (c) above, then the commission shall not issue licenses or permits for the sale of wine in that city or town.
V. If a majority of the qualified voters present and voting in a city or town signifies the disapproval of question (d) above, the commission shall not issue licenses or permits for the sale of liquor for consumption on the premises where sold in that city or town.
VI. If a majority of the qualified voters present and voting in a city or town signifies the approval of question (a) above, the commission may at its discretion operate state liquor stores in that city or town.
VII. If a majority of the qualified voters present and voting in a city or town signifies approval of question (b) above, then the commission may at its discretion issue licenses or permits for the sale of malt beverages in that city or town.
VIII. If a majority of the qualified voters present and voting in a city or town signifies the approval of question (c) above, the commission may at its discretion issue licenses or permits for the sale of wine in that city or town.
IX. If a majority of the qualified voters present and voting in a city or town signifies approval of question (d) above, then the commission may at its discretion issue licenses or permits for the sale of liquor for consumption on the premises where sold in that city or town.

Source. 1979, 436:1. 1981, 143:1; 387:1. 1994, 4:26. 1995, 34:14, eff. June 23, 1995.

Section 663:6

    663:6 Application. – Unless and until changed pursuant to RSA 663:5, the operation of state stores and the issuance of licenses and permits in cities and in towns shall be in accordance with the approval or disapproval of such operation as signified by the vote regarding the sale of liquor and beverages taken at the state general election in November, 1964.

Source. 1979, 436:1, eff. July 1, 1979.

Sales of Lottery

Section 663:7

    663:7 Question; Vote; Results. – Upon the petition of 5 percent of the voters of any city or town filed with the secretary of state not earlier than the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday in August and no later than the first Friday in September before a state general election, the appropriate version of the following question shall be submitted to the voters of such city or town at said election: "Shall lottery tickets (continue to) be sold in this city or town?" If a majority of those voting vote "yes" on the question, tickets may be sold or continued to be sold by the commission in that city or town. If a majority of those voting vote "no" on the question, the commission shall not sell tickets in that city or town. No petition that the question prescribed in this section be printed on the ballot at a state general election shall be made within 2 years of a vote on such a question at a previous state general election.

Source. 1979, 436:1. 1981, 387:2. 1994, 4:27. 2004, 97:8, eff. July 10, 2004.

Section 663:8

    663:8 Application. – Unless and until changed pursuant to RSA 663:7, the sales of lottery tickets by the lottery commission under RSA 284 in cities and towns shall be in accordance with the approval or disapproval of such operation as signified by the vote taken at the state general election held in November, 1970.

Source. 1979, 436:1. 2004, 97:8, eff. July 10, 2004.