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City of Dover, NH
Strafford County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[Adopted 11-13-2013 by Ord. No. 2013.10.09-013 as Ch. 100 of the 2013 Code]
As used in this article, the following terms mean:
CANDIDATE
Any person for whom votes are sought in an election.
ELECTION
Any general biennial, municipal or special election for City Council or School Board.
ELECTION ASSISTANTS
Perform duties such as ballot checker, assisting voters with questions, helping register new voters, assist Selectperson/Ward Clerk on the in/out checklist, count write-in votes and other duties as directed by the Ward Moderator.
[Amended 2-12-2020 by Ord. No. 2020.01.08-001]
ELECTION OFFICIALS
All persons who receive pay for work at the election polls under the supervision of the City Clerk, including but not limited to:
A. 
MODERATORResponsible for overseeing the election process at the polling place of the ward to which he/she was elected and ensuring that all applicable laws and procedures are carried out and followed by all participants at the polling place. The Moderator shall document and report to the City Clerk any and all occurrences that may have either a direct or indirect impact of said election.
B. 
WARD CLERKPerforms whatever duties deemed necessary by the Moderator, including verifying and recording ballot count information.
C. 
SELECTPERSONResponsible for the "in" and "out" checklists at the polling place, including verifying voter information, handing out of ballots, directing voters to booths, and any other duties deemed necessary by the Moderator.
[Amended 2-12-2020 by Ord. No. 2020.01.08-001]
D. 
SUPERVISOR OF THE CHECKLISTResponsible for maintaining up-to-date voter checklist information for the ward to which he/she was elected in accordance with all applicable laws.
[Amended 2-12-2020 by Ord. No. 2020.01.08-001]
This article should be read in conjunction with the state law on election procedure, RSA 659 and RSA 664, and City Charter Article II, Elections.
All candidates for the office of School Board or City Council shall:
A. 
Disclose the name and address of their fiscal agent and campaign manager, if different, when filing for office.
B. 
Be provided with a copy of RSA 659:3 through 659:45 and copies of the relevant sections of the Dover City Charter and City Code pertaining to conduct of elections, political advertising (RSA 664:14 through 664:17-a) and contributions (Article II, Political Contributions and Expenditures, of this chapter).
C. 
Candidates are invited to attend a biannual election law class to be held at a date and time announced by the City Clerk.
A. 
Corridor. A ten-foot-wide corridor shall be constructed at each polling place in the City. The corridor shall be constructed by use of a continuous, non-breakable material to prevent access to voters who are entering the polls. A ten-foot corridor shall be maintained to allow voter access to the polls.
B. 
No person shall hand out campaign material within the ten-foot-wide corridor or interfere with voters who are passing through.
(1) 
Distributing campaign materials at polling place, RSA 659:43, I and II.
(a) 
No person who is a candidate for office or who is representing or working for a candidate shall distribute or post at a polling place any campaign material in the form of a poster, card, handbill, placard, picture or circular which is intended to influence the action of the voter within the building where the election is being held.
(b) 
No person shall distribute any campaign materials or perform any electioneering activities or any activity which affects the safety, welfare and rights of voters within a corridor of 10 feet wide and extending a distance from the entrance door of the building as determined by the Moderator where the election is being held.
C. 
The City Clerk may utilize monitors, if available, to oversee outside activity and give directions to voters. Such monitors shall have a clearly marked City of Dover authorization displayed on their outer clothing.
D. 
Ward Moderators will be provided with communication devices upon request.
E. 
Elected elections officials and ward workers are invited to attend the biannual election law class.
A. 
Number of assistants. Election assistants may be employed by each Ward Moderator at the discretion of the Ward Moderator at the following suggested levels if possible and within the appropriated funding:
(1) 
Federal election: up to eight assistants.
(2) 
State election: up to six assistants.
(3) 
Municipal election: up to four assistants.
B. 
Compensation.
[Amended 2-12-2020 by Ord. No. 2020.01.08-001]
(1) 
Elected ward officials may be compensated as follows:
(a) 
Supervisors of the Checklist: $222 per day.
(b) 
Moderators: $250 per day.
[Amended 10-11-2023 by Ord. No. 2023.09.27-13]
(c) 
Selectpersons: $9.00 per hour.
[Amended 10-11-2023 by Ord. No. 2023.09.27-13]
(d) 
Ward Clerks: $170 per day.
[Amended 10-11-2023 by Ord. No. 2023.09.27-13]
(2) 
Nonelected election workers may be compensated up to $10 per hour.
(3) 
Any elected official who chooses to volunteer may do so without compensation.
(4) 
All ward officials and assistants shall submit an affidavit that they are not being compensated by additional wages from the City of Dover on the same day they submit for hours worked at the polls.
C. 
Vacancy.
(1) 
In the event of temporary absence of Ward Moderator, the Moderator shall appoint an elected ward official pro tem to serve in the official's place.
(2) 
In the event of a permanent vacancy, the City Council shall appoint a registered voter in that ward to serve the remainder of the term, as per Charter § C2-2.
D. 
Qualifications.
(1) 
All assistants shall be capable of performing the duties assigned.
(2) 
All assistants shall be registered voters and reside in the City of Dover.
(3) 
Election assistants (except elected ward officials) are prohibited from also being a candidate for office whose name appears on the ballot during the election they are working.
Notwithstanding Charter § C2-6, RSA 654:27, 654:28, 654:32, 669:5 and 671:15 allow Supervisors to hold sessions for 1/2 hour, which can be extended at the discretion of the Supervisors. The City Clerk is authorized to follow state law in reducing the amount of hours the Supervisors sit in accordance with the newly amended laws.
[Amended 2-12-2020 by Ord. No. 2020.01.08-001]
Any person found in violation of this article may be subject to a fine as provided in the City Fine Schedule.