QUESTIONS TO VOTERS

RSA tit. LXIII, ch. 663

in effect

RSA 663:1 Form on Ballot; Tabulation; Results; Etc.

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.

RSA 663:2 Form of Submission of Question.

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.

RSA 663:3 Form of Ballot.

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. In all circumstances, each constitutional amendment question shall be presented in a manner that the voter is making a single choice on a single constitutional amendment question. Under no circumstance shall a voter be asked to make a single vote on multiple constitutional amendment questions. Source. 1979, 436:1. 1999, 67:1. 2013, 231:2, eff. Sept. 13, 2013. 2026, 121:1, eff. June 5, 2026.

RSA 663:3-a Voter's Guides.

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.

RSA 663:3-b Notice of Constitutional Amendment Vote.

663:3-b. Notice of Constitutional Amendment Vote. Every town and city clerk shall prominently display a notice prepared by the secretary of state explaining the constitutional amendment for voters and directing voters to the department of state's website for additional information. The following words for the header of the notice shall include: "Notice of Questions Relating to Constitutional Amendments Proposed by the Convention to Revise the Constitution" or "Notice of Questions Relating to Constitutional Amendments Proposed by the Legislature to Revise the Constitution," whichever is appropriate. The notice shall contain the scheduled date of the vote and other information about the constitutional amendment as described in RSA 663:3. The secretary of state shall maintain a webpage on the department of state's website providing the same information as the prepared notice. Such notice shall be displayed for at least 60 days prior to the state-wide vote on the constitutional amendment. Source. 2026, 91:1, eff. July 27, 2026.

RSA 663:4 Result; Publication; Effective Date.

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.

RSA 663:5 Question; Vote; Results.

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.

RSA 663:6 Application.

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.

RSA 663:7 Question; Vote; Results.

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.

RSA 663:8 Application.

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.

Source: New Hampshire General Court (gc.nh.gov)URL: https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/NHTOC/NHTOC-LXIII-663.htmFetched: 10/20/2026