Citizen's Petition Deadline Approaches

New Hampshire law allows for a citizen’s petition to be put on the ballot as a warrant article (See New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated or RSA 39:3).

In SB (Senate Bill) 2 towns, as Londonderry is, petitioned warrant articles must be submitted by the second Tuesday in January (RSA 40:13, II-a (b) & RSA 39:3).

The law requires that a citizen’s petition must be signed by “25 or more registered voters of the town or 2% of the registered voters of the town, whichever is less, although in no event shall fewer than 10 registered voters be sufficient.” Those signatories to the petition must be confirmed by the Supervisor of the Checklist prior to publishing the citizen’s petition as part of the Town Warrant presented to the voters at the deliberative session and at the ballot in March.

Those citizens interested in putting a citizen’s petition on the ballot should complete this process first and as early as possible, since failure to secure the required 25 signatures may result in the petition being declared invalid or removed from the Warrant.

Specific articles may require certain language prescribed by statute (as an example  articles under RSA 32:5-c to adopt an official tax cap have prescribed wording that must be used), so citizens should check the statute when drafting the article.  To assist citizens as they prepare for this process Londonderry has a long standing tradition of offering legal assistance to those seeking to put a citizen’s petition on the ballot.  Again it is imperative to make this request early in order to provide you with effective assistance.

Finally citizens should be aware that, except for articles using language prescribed in a statute, the deliberative session of the town meeting may amend petitioned articles, including but not limited to amending the amount of money, if any, proposed to be raised and appropriated. RSA 40:13, IV(c).

Should you have questions about this process please call or e-mail Margo Lapietro and she can provide you with direction as to whom to speak to.  Her phone number is (603) 432-1100 X 120; her e-mail address is mlapietro@londonderrynh.org.

Source: Town of Londonderry.