Current through the 2024 Legislative Session
Section 665:8 - Appeals From Recounts The ballot law commission shall hear and determine appeals from recounts in the following cases:
I. In case of a primary recount as provided in RSA 660:7-9-a, any person voted for upon the ballot of any party who, by declaration of the secretary of state upon recount, was not chosen as the candidate of such party may, within 3 days after said declaration, appeal therefrom to the ballot law commission by filing a written appeal with the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall forthwith notify the ballot law commission of the filing. The ballot law commission shall then meet as provided in RSA 665:5 in order to hear and decide the appeal and shall, on the appeal, consider and review all the rulings of the secretary of state on ballots protested during the recount. In no case may the ballot law commission order a second recount. If, after the review, it shall appear that the appellant was nominated, the commission shall change the declaration of the secretary of state and issue a certificate of nomination to the appellant. The decision of the ballot law commission in such cases shall be final as to questions both of law and fact, and no court shall have jurisdiction to review such decision. The jurisdiction vested in the commission under this paragraph shall be exclusive of all other remedies.II. In case of an election recount as provided in RSA 660:1-6, any candidate who, by declaration of the secretary of state upon recount, did not have the greatest number of votes may, within 3 days after said declaration, appeal therefrom to the ballot law commission by filing his written appeal with the secretary of state. The ballot law commission shall forthwith meet, hear, and decide such appeal and shall, on such appeal, consider and review all the rulings of the secretary of state on ballots protested during the recount. In no case may the ballot law commission order a second recount. If, after the review, it shall appear that the appellant had the greatest number of votes, the commission shall change the declaration of the secretary of state and issue a certificate of such changed declaration to the appellant. The decision of the ballot law commission under this paragraph shall be subject to appeal as provided in RSA 665:16. The jurisdiction vested in the commission under this paragraph shall be exclusive of all other remedies. Nothing contained in this paragraph shall be construed to bar any person from recourse to the superior court on other questions, within the jurisdiction of such court, relating to the legality or regularity of general elections or the results thereof. 2003, 151:8, eff. Jan. 1, 2004.