Official Ballots and SB2

The1995 Passage of New Hampshire Senate Bill 2Governed by RSA 40:13

1

Conclusion first —

The real issue is not the method of discussion nor the method and timing of a vote.

“The real issue is the education of the

voters.”

In today’s world, how does a citizen become informed about the important issues on the local level?

Democracy only works when citizens are accurately informed and can make informed choices when voting.

2

In 1995, the legislature passed Senate Bill 2

(SB2), which allows any local political

subdivision of the state whose legislative

body raises and appropriates funds through

any annual meeting to adopt voting by official

ballot on all warrant articles.

Raymond voted to move to SB2 in 2002.3

4

The law that allows towns to …“ separate discussions from

voting ”

SB2 requires two separate sessions—

The first session is held for explanation, discussion and debate of

each warrant article; voters may amend and vote on amendments,

but no final vote may be taken on any warrant article at the first

session.

The second session is held to elect officers by official ballot, to

vote on questions required by law to be inserted on the official

ballot, and to vote on all warrant articles from the first session by

official ballot.

By 2008 —

More than 35% of New Hampshire’s population lives in the 63 towns that adopted SB2, now known as “official ballot” towns.

About 30% of New Hampshire’s residents live in “town meeting” towns.

About 34% of New Hampshire’s residents live in the 15 municipalities with no town meeting, usuallya city with a council form of government.

5

6

As of 2010 voting,63 towns and 73 school districts use SB2.

7

The larger towns with an average of 7,500 people have been most likely to adopt. Raymond = 10,780

The non-SB2 towns had an average size of about 2,600 people per municipality.

The faster growing towns in New Hampshire have been most likely to adopt SB2, growing by almost 1,000 people per year from 1990 to 2000, three times faster than the towns that have not adopted SB2.

8

“SB 2 is a kind of middle ground between a

town meeting in the traditional sense and

some kind of city council or town council,”

said Dennis Delay, an economist at the NH

Public Policy center. “We've created this sort

of hybrid between town meeting and a

representative type of government.”

9

10

Arguments for SB2

More people participate in the vote – voting is up dramatically, compared to town meeting participation

No intimidation from neighbors, as in a public vote

Keeps budgets lower

Town Meeting takes hours, voting takes a few minutes

11

Arguments against SB2

Voters don’t attend deliberative sessions and are unaware of the issues on each warrant article

Less sense of community

Warrant articles can be changed at Deliberative session

No opportunity to convince neighbors on policies

Myth: SB2 voters tend to vote down appropriations.

More appropriations

in towns with SB2

Graph taken from New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies, nhpolicy.org

12

Appropriations

Of the $5 billion in local level appropriations raised by New Hampshire municipalities in 2007 to fund local schools and other municipal services —

$1.8 billion (36%) was appropriated in towns following the SB2 form of governance

$1.5 billion was appropriated in towns that followed the more traditional town meeting format

13

14

Preferences

Are you intimidated by neighbors?

Or do you prefer a lively debate on issues?

Many people prefer the anonymity of a secret ballot, which was actually phased in in the US, prior to the election of 1891. This election was the first federal election completely held with secret ballots.

15

Town Meetings take too long!

Using a ballot and voting booth, allows more people to participate in the vote. All statistics on SB2 show more people voting.

However, the long discussions now occur at Deliberative Sessions and statistics on SB2 show many fewer people attend these information sessions.

How do citizens learn about the issues?

16

Information Sources

Town Board meetings Town website notices Newspapers Raymond Community TV Streaming video online Raymond Voter Information Project Neighborhood conversations

Are you well connected to town news?

“The real issue is the education of the

voters.”

Democracy only works when citizens are accurately informed and can make informed choices when voting.

Both Town Meeting and SB2 guarantee citizens the right to express their preferences.

Neither format allows the town to spend money to promote a position on the warrant articles.

If we want educated voters, we must reach out with the details on issues before us.

17