Official Ballots and SB2

1. Official Ballots and SB2 The1995 Passage of New Hampshire Senate Bill 2 Governed by RSA 40:13

2. 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.

3. 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.

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.

5. 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.

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.”

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

12. 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

13. 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

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?

17. “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.