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New Hampshire Constitutional Convention Question (2022)
| New Hampshire Constitutional Convention Question | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 8, 2022 | |
| Topic Constitutional conventions | |
| Status | |
| Type Automatic referral | Origin Dictated by law |
The New Hampshire Constitutional Convention Question was on the ballot in New Hampshire as an automatic ballot referral on November 8, 2022. The measure was defeated.
A "yes" vote supported holding a state constitutional convention. |
A "no" vote opposed holding a state constitutional convention. |
Election results
|
New Hampshire Question |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 178,339 | 33.89% | ||
|
|
347,838 | 66.11% | ||
Overview
How did the measure get on the ballot?
In New Hampshire, a state constitutional convention question is provided to voters every 10 years after the prior question. A constitutional convention consists of elected delegates that propose changes to the state's constitution. Any proposed changes, including a rewritten constitution, must be approved by voters. New Hampshire voters addressed a constitutional convention question in 2012. Voters rejected the question by a margin of 64.04% to 35.96%. Between 1894 and 2012, New Hampshire voters approved eight constitutional convention questions and defeated five.
Article 100 the section title "Oaths and Subscriptions Exclusion from Offices, Etc.," of the New Hampshire Constitution governs the constitutional convention question.
Do other states vote on constitutional convention questions?
- See also: State constitutional conventions
As of 2022, 44 states had rules that govern how, in their state, a constitutional convention can be called. In fourteen states, the question of whether to hold a constitutional convention was automatically referred to a statewide ballot without any requirement for a vote of the state legislature to place the question on the ballot. Nine states allowed the state legislature to refer a question about whether or not to hold a constitutional convention to the ballot, which required voter approval to take place. Five states allowed the people to place a constitutional convention question on the ballot via an initiative petition. Seven states—Arkansas, Indiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Vermont—did not provide for constitutional conventions.
In 2022, voters in Missouri, New Hampshire, and Alaska decided on three constitutional convention questions that were automatically referred to the ballot. All three were defeated.
Text of measure
Ballot title
The official ballot title was as follows:[1]
| “ |
Shall there be a convention to amend or revise the constitution?[2] |
” |
Readability score
- See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2022
Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title for this measure. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. The constitution wrote the ballot language for this measure.
The FKGL for the ballot title is grade level 8, and the FRE is 57. The word count for the ballot title is 11.
Support
Ballotpedia did not locate a campaign in support of the ballot measure.
Opposition
Ballotpedia did not locate a campaign in opposition to the ballot measure.
Campaign finance
If you are aware of a committee that was registered to support or oppose this question, please email editor@ballotpedia.org.
| Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions | Cash Expenditures | Total Expenditures | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Oppose | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Total | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Background
Past votes on New Hampshire Constitutional Convention Questions
- See also: List of New Hampshire ballot measures
The question as to whether to hold a constitutional convention is automatically placed on the statewide general election ballot every ten years. Starting in 1792, New Hampshire required that a mandatory vote on whether to hold a constitutional convention take place every seven years. This was changed in 1964 to the current ten-year requirement.[3] The New Hampshire General Court can also place the question about having a convention on the statewide ballot by a majority vote; if it does, the timing of the automatic referrals will change to be ten years from the last time the state legislature put the question on the ballot rather than ten years from the last automatic referral of the question.
Between 1894 and 2012, New Hampshire voters approved eight constitutional convention questions and defeated five. The following chart lists the constitutional convention questions that appeared on New Hampshire ballots:
| Year | Title | Yes vote | No vote | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Question 3 | 35.96% | 64.04% | Defeated |
| 2002 | Question 2 | 49.13% | 50.87% | Defeated |
| 1992 | Question 1 | 49.16% | 50.84% | Defeated |
| 1982 | Question 1 | 52.30% | 47.70% | Approved |
| 1972 | Question 1 | 56.88% | 43.12% | Approved |
| 1954 | Question 1 | 63.35% | 36.65% | Approved |
| 1946 | Question 1 | 62.66% | 37.34% | Approved |
| 1928 | Question 1 | 57.76% | 42.24% | Approved |
| 1916 | Question 1 | 59.78% | 40.22% | Approved |
| 1910 | Question 1 | 59.79% | 40.21% | Approved |
| 1900 | Question 1 | 76.28% | 23.72% | Approved |
| 1896 | Question 1 | 41.55% | 58.45% | Defeated |
| 1894 | Question 1 | 45.05% | 54.95% | Defeated |
State constitutional conventions
- See also: State constitutional conventions
A state constitutional convention is a gathering of elected delegates who propose revisions and amendments to a state constitution. As of 2021, 233 constitutional conventions to deliberate on state-level constitutions have been held in the United States.[3]
As of 2022, 44 states had rules that govern how, in their state, a constitutional convention can be called. The last time voters approved a constitutional convention question was in 1996 in Hawaii.
States that had scheduled automatic ballot referrals for constitutional convention questions include Alaska (2022), Missouri (2022), New Hampshire (2022), Rhode Island (2024), Michigan (2026), Connecticut (2028), Hawaii (2028), Illinois (2028), Iowa (2030), Maryland (2030), Montana (2030), Alaska (2032), New Hampshire (2032), and Ohio (2032).[4]
History of the New Hampshire Constitution
- See also: New Hampshire Constitution
The current (and third) New Hampshire Constitution was adopted on October 31, 1783. The current constitution has been amended 146 times. The most recent amendments to the New Hampshire Constitution, Question 1 and Question 2, were approved by voters in 2018. Before 2018, the last time New Hampshire's constitution was amended was in 2006.[5][6]
Constitutional convention questions on the ballot in 2022
In 2022, voters in Missouri, New Hampshire, and Alaska decided on three constitutional convention questions that were automatically referred to the ballot. All three were defeated.
Path to the ballot
- See also: State constitutional conventions
In New Hampshire, a state constitutional convention question is provided to voters every 10 years after the prior question. New Hampshire voters addressed a constitutional convention question in 2012. Voters rejected the question by a margin of 64.04% to 35.96%.
Article 100 the section title "Oaths and Subscriptions Exclusion from Offices, Etc.," of the New Hampshire Constitution governs the constitutional convention question. The following is Article 100:
Note: Hover over the text and scroll to see the full text.
Text of Article 100: Alternate Methods of Proposing Amendments
Amendments to this constitution may be proposed by the general court or by a constitutional convention selected as herein provided.
(a) The senate and house of representatives, voting separately, may propose amendments by a three-fifths vote of the entire membership of each house at any session.
(b) The general court, by an affirmative vote of a majority of all members of both houses voting separately, may at any time submit the question "Shall there be a convention to amend or revise the constitution?" to the qualified voters of the state. If the question of holding a convention is not submitted to the people at some time during any period of ten years, it shall be submitted by the secretary of state at the general election in the tenth year following the last submission. If a majority of the qualified voters voting on the question of holding a convention approves it, delegates shall be chosen at the next regular general election, or at such earlier time as the legislature may provide, in the same manner, and proportion as the representatives to the general court are chosen. The delegates so chosen shall convene at such time as the legislature may direct and may recess from time to time and make such rules for the conduct of their convention as they may determine.
(c) The constitutional convention may propose amendments by a three-fifths vote of the entire membership of the convention. Each constitutional amendment proposed by the general court or by a constitutional convention shall be submitted to the voters by written ballot at the next biennial November election and shall become a part of the Constitution only after approval by two-thirds of the qualified voters present and voting on the subject in the towns, wards, and unincorporated places.[2]
How to cast a vote
- See also: Voting in New Hampshire
Click "Show" to learn more about voter registration, identification requirements, and poll times in New Hampshire.
| How to cast a vote in New Hampshire | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll timesIn New Hampshire, polling place hours of operation vary. According to state law, polling places must be open between 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Localities may set their own polling hours as long as they are open during those hours prescribed by state law.[7] To search for the hours your polling place is open, click here. Registration
To register to vote in New Hampshire, each applicant must provide documentary proof of United States citizenship, be a resident of New Hampshire, and at least 18 years old by the next election. Individuals may register to vote at the local clerk's office, with the community's supervisors of the checklist or registrar of voters, or at the polling place on the day of the election. Applicants must fill out a voter registration form and either show proof of identity and citizenship or sign an affidavit witnessed by an election official.[8][9] Absentee registration is allowed for those who are “unable to register in person because of physical disability, religious beliefs, military service, or because of temporary absence.” Absentee registration requires mailing a voter registration form and witnessed absentee voter registration affidavit to the local clerk.[8] Automatic registrationNew Hampshire does not practice automatic voter registration. Online registration
New Hampshire does not permit online voter registration. Same-day registrationNew Hampshire allows same-day voter registration. Residency requirementsIn New Hampshire, citizens can register to vote the day they move to the state.[8] Verification of citizenshipNew Hampshire requires voters to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote, as of June 2025. Gov. Chris Sununu (R) signed HB 1569 into law on September 17, 2024. The legislation required voter registration applicants to provide one of the following at the time of registration: "birth certificate, passport, naturalization papers if the applicant is a naturalized citizen, or any other reasonable documentation which indicates the applicant is a United States citizen."[10] All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[11] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters. Verifying your registrationThe New Hampshire Secretary of State’s office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website. Voter ID requirementsNew Hampshire requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[12] The following list of accepted ID was current as of June 2024. Click here for the New Hampshire Secretary of State page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
Additionally, a poll worker may verify the voter’s identity. If anyone authorized to challenge a voter objects to the poll worker’s verification, the voter would have to complete a challenged voter affidavit.[12] Voters without proper photo identification can complete a challenged voter affidavit. A poll worker will take a photo of the voter and attach it to the affidavit. The voter may then cast a regular ballot. If the voter objects to being photographed for religious reasons, he or she can complete an affidavit of religious exemption, which will be attached to the challenged voter affidavit.[12] | |||||
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ New Hampshire State Constitution, "Part 2, Article 100" accessed August 31, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 3.0 3.1 Montana Law Review, "The Political Dynamics of Mandatory State Constitutional Convention Referendums: Lessons from the 2000s Regarding Obstacles and Pathways to their Passage", Volume 71, Issue 2, Summer 2010; retrieved August 21, 2016
- ↑ Political Science Now, "A Political Primer on the Periodic State Constitutional Convention Referendum by J.H. (“Jim”) Snider- The State Constitutional Convention Clearinghouse," accessed December 12, 2018
- ↑ State of New Hampshire, "New Hampshire Constitution," accessed April 29, 2015
- ↑ Marshall, S. (2011). The New Hampshire State Constitution. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. (page xiv)
- ↑ New Hampshire Revised Statutes - Title 63, Chapter 659.4," accessed April 25, 2023
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 New Hampshire Secretary of State, “How to Register to Vote,” accessed June 25, 2024
- ↑ New Hampshire Secretary of State, “Register to Vote,” accessed June 25, 2024
- ↑ General Court of New Hampshire, "CHAPTER 378 HB 1569-FN - FINAL VERSION," accessed November 14, 2024
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 State of New Hampshire, "Voter ID Law Explanatory Document," accessed June 25, 2024
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