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Portsmouth council advances measure to place nonpartisan-election charter amendment on ballot after extended public debate
Summary
After public comment and council discussion spanning concerns about the Hatch Act, voter education and potential costs, the Portsmouth Town Council voted to move a Home Rule Charter amendment on nonpartisan Town Council and School Committee elections forward for inclusion on a future ballot as amended.
Councilor McDowell moved to advance a resolution asking the Secretary of State to place a Home Rule Charter amendment on a future ballot to make Town Council and School Committee elections nonpartisan. The council heard more than an hour of public comment and an extended council debate before voting to advance the measure.
The proposal would amend Portsmouth’s Home Rule Charter to remove party labels for council and school committee contests and submit that change to the Secretary of State for inclusion at the next general or special election, whichever comes first, as amended during council discussion. Council debate focused on practical effects, voter education needs, and limits imposed by federal law.
Jackie, canvasser for the Board of Canvassers, presented research on how nonpartisan municipal races appear in neighboring towns and described the Secretary of State’s ballot-certification role. Councilors and members of the public questioned how much voter education would be required and the potential cost of a charter amendment process.
Multiple residents and speakers urged either placing the question on the ballot so voters can decide, or urged caution and more study. Several resident commenters and local advocates raised the Hatch Act and its effect on federal employees running for office. Attorney and community commenter Mr. Katzmann (identified in public comment) told the council that the Hatch Act can still bar federal employees from running if a party endorses a candidate; he said party endorsements can transform an otherwise nonpartisan contest into a partisan one under federal guidance and case law.
Councilors asked staff and the solicitor’s office to confirm legal details and to clarify the timeline for ballot certification. Councilor Gavin proposed edits to the resolution to clarify that the amendment would be submitted for inclusion at “the next special or general election, whichever occurs first,” and to remove a sentence that councilors agreed was not needed. Councilors also discussed whether a special election should be used or whether placement on the next general election ballot would be preferable.
The assembly received the Board of Canvassers’ data packet, and Councilor McDowell moved the resolution forward. The council recorded a final vote on the motion to place the amendment on a future ballot (as amended); the recorded outcome in the meeting transcript is a council approval (see actions below). The resolution will be transmitted to the Secretary of State for placement on the ballot in accordance with the amendment language as amended by council.
Why it matters: The change would alter how municipal candidates are presented to voters and could affect eligibility and campaigning practices for local offices. Public commenters and councilors emphasized the need for clear voter education and legal review before implementation.
Next steps: The council directed staff to work with the town solicitor and the Board of Canvassers on final language and timing for submission to the Secretary of State; the resolution packet and supporting data were placed on file.
