Official Ballot Voting (SB2) for Brookline

Transcription

1 Official Ballot Voting (SB2) for Brookline MARCH 6, 2018

2 What is Official Ballot Voting (SB2)? SB2 is a method to conduct town meeting, in two sessions 1) Deliberative Session (held in February) Same as current Town Meeting format - open to all voters with debate, discussion, amendments, and motions Finalizes warrant articles for Ballot Voting Session (below) Main difference final vote to approve/disapprove warrant articles occurs during Ballot Voting Session 2) Ballot Voting Session (held second Tuesday in March) Private ballot vote on each warrant article from deliberative session Held at same time as town/school district election, zoning questions Voting can be done anytime 7 am to 7:30 pm or by absentee ballot SB2 can also be adopted for local school districts or cooperative school districts

3 Operating Budget Operating Budget Brookline will always have an operating budget. It will be one of the following: Proposed Operating Budget from Deliberative Session OR Default Operating Budget Same as previous year with certain adjustments, e.g. reduced by one-time expenditures contained in the previous year operating budget determined by Selectboard in compliance with RSA 40:13 Note: Proposed Operating Budget can be higher or lower than Default Operating Budget

4 Advantages of Official Ballot Voting (SB2) Increased voter participation Two opportunities to participate: Deliberative Session and Ballot Voting Session 30+ days to understand warrant articles Understand and ask questions on advantages/disadvantages and tax impacts Increased visibility of warrant articles to public Fact checking Privacy of ballot voting Flexibility to vote any time on Election Day, or by absentee ballot Those unable to attend current town meeting still get to vote Do not need to remain at current town meeting that often goes to 11 pm or later at night

5 Disadvantages of Official Ballot Voting (SB2) Selectboard, Finance Committee, and/or proponents of warrant articles need to communicate the merits of the warrant articles Before the deliberative session During the deliberative session During 30+ day period between the Deliberative Session and Ballot Voting Session Tabling of warrant articles is not allowed all warrant articles are placed on ballot for the Ballot Voting Session Reconsideration of articles is not permitted a passed or defeated article cannot be brought up later in the meeting

6 Brookline Voter Participation

7 Brookline Voter Participation

8 Brookline Voter Participation (%) 2.2 to 3.8 times more Ballot Voters!

9 Support Official Ballot Voting (SB2) for Brookline! More opportunities to participate with two sessions (Deliberative and Ballot Voting) Provides a longer and more informed discussion on all warrant articles Ensures privacy and ability to vote to all voters Increased voter participation leads to Fiscally responsible spending and reasonable property taxes Better outcomes that are in the best interest of the entire community

10 Please support SB2 on Tuesday, March 13

11 Who uses Official Ballot Voting (SB2)? Towns Alexandria Allenstown Alstead Alton Amherst Ashland Atkinson Auburn Barrington Belmont Bennington Bethlehem Canaan Candia Carroll Charlestown Conway Danbury Danville Deerfield East Kingston Epping Epsom Exeter Fremont Gilford Gilmanton Goffstown Grafton Greenland Hampstead Hampton Hampton Falls Hooksett Hudson Kensington Kingston Lee Litchfield Littleton Londonderry Merrimack Milford Milton New Boston New Durham New Hampton New Ipswich Newfields Newmarket Newport Newton North Hampton Northwood Pelham Peterborough Plaistow Raymond Rindge Rye Salem Sandown Seabrook Sunapee Swanzey Wakefield Weare Winchester Windham Wolfeboro

12 Who uses Official Ballot Voting (SB2)? Local Districts Allenstown Local Alton Local Amherst Local Ashland Local Auburn Local Barrington Local Bedford Local Brookline Local Candia Local Claremont Local Conway Local Deerfield Local Derry Local East Kingston Local Epping Local Epsom Local Exeter Local Farmington Local Fremont Local Gilford Local Gilmanton Local Goffstown Local Greenland Local Hampstead Local Hampton Falls Local Hampton Local Henniker Local Hooksett Local Hudson Local Keene Local Kensington Local Lebanon Local Litchfield Local Littleton Local Londonderry Local Madison Local Mason Local Merrimack Local Middleton Local Milford Local Milton Local Mont Vernon Local New Boston Local Newfields Local Newmarket Local Newport Local North Hampton Local Northwood Local Nottingham Local Pelham Local Raymond Local Rollinsford Local Rumney Local Rye Local Salem Local Seabrook Local South Hampton Local Sunapee Local Wakefield Local Weare Local Winchester Local Windham Local

13 Who uses Official Ballot Voting (SB2)? Cooperative Districts ConVal Exeter Coop Fall Mountain Kearsarge Mascenic Mascoma Governor Monadnock Wentworth Newfound Area Hillsboro-Deering Oyster River Jaffrey-Rindge Pemi-Baker John Stark Sanborn Shaker Souhegan Timberlane White Mountains Winnacunnet

14 Official Ballot Voting (SB2) To adopt, ballot measure requires 60% supermajority YES votes to adopt SB2 If SB2 is adopted, ballot measure requires 60% supermajority YES votes to rescind SB2