House Speaker Shawn Jasper wants to give Hampton Falls and other towns that postponed their elections due to a snowstorm a way out of facing potential lawsuits from voters who may have been disenfranchised. Jasper is proposing letting towns ratify the results of their elections by holding another vote. A bill he’s sponsoring would give towns that moved Election Day the option of letting townspeople vote to ratify, or confirm, the results on May 23. Jasper believes it was illegal for towns to move their elections and he’s warned towns could face lawsuits. But he says ratifying the results would prevent further chaos.
Secretary of State Bill Gardner says 137 towns held elections despite the storm, while 73 postponed them.
The proposal, which is currently before House Election Law Committee, would be added to SB 108, a bill dealing with absentee ballot applications.
Full Article: Jasper bill would give towns option to ratify delayed votes.