Board of Registrars

MINUTES Board of Registrars’ Meeting June 6, 2016 10:00 a.m. City Clerk’s Conference Room Present: Patricia Lucier and Susan Waye. Absent: Kathryn Fogal. Also present City Clerk Patricia Piecuch 1. In the absence of the Chairman, City Clerk P. Piecuch called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m. and asked for election of a Chairman Pro-Tem. S. Waye motioned to elect P. Lucier as the Chairman Pro-Tem. Seconded by P. Lucier. Motion passed. 2. S. Waye moved to accept the minutes of Board of Registrars’ meeting of October 29, 2015. Seconded by P. Lucier. Motion passed. 3. S. Waye moved to accept the minutes of Board of Registrars’ meeting of February 4, 2016. Seconded by P. Lucier. Motion passed. 4. In reference to the additions, deletions and corrections of the checklist, City Clerk P. Piecuch advised the Board, since the Presidential Primary, the office had made 34,961 corrections within the system, some of them were staff errors that were corrected, but also the changes for those voters who were Undeclared and reverted back to Undeclared. S. Waye moved to accept the City Clerk's report of deletions, additions and corrections to the checklist. Seconded by P. Lucier. Motion passed. 5. Communication from Kim Kleiner and Gwen Mikailov, Co-Chairs of the League of Women Voters NH – Greater Nashua. Discussion ensued as to whether to invite Ms. Kleiner and Ms. Mikailov to the next regular meeting of the Board or to schedule a special meeting. Dates were looked at to determine the next regular meetings. Since the next regular meeting would not be scheduled until September 8th, dates were looked at in August. S. Waye moved to accept, place on file and to schedule a special meeting of the Board of Registrars on August 16, 2016 at 11 a.m. in Room 208. Seconded by P. Lucier. Motion passed. 6. Appointment of City Clerk Staff as Deputy Registrars and Temporary Deputy Registrars. City Clerk P. Piecuch stated in accordance with the charter, the Board was authorized to appoint “up to two deputy employees” and requested the Board appoint or re-appoint two deputies annually, as they have done in the past. S. Waye moved to appoint Patricia D. Piecuch and Judith Boileau as Deputy Registrars. Seconded by P. Lucier. Motion passed. 1  City Clerk P. Piecuch also stated that they can also appoint Temporary Registrars and requested that City Clerk staff be appointed as those temporary registrars for up to one year. S. Waye moved to appoint Colette Trempe, Michele Harley and Amanda Mazerolle as Temporary Deputy Registrars for one year. Seconded by P. Lucier. Motion passed. 7. City Clerk P. Piecuch stated that last year the Board had appointed, Paul R. Bergeron, Patricia D. Piecuch and Judith Boileau as ElectioNet Roles 390, Supervisors of the Checklist, for an indefinite term and their term should only be terminated due to resignation or retirement. Since there has been a change in staffing and roles, the City Clerk is requesting a new letter be signed, by the Board, appointing those officials in their new capacity, again at an indefinite term. City Clerk P. Piecuch stated by approving it with an indefinite term, then the Secretary of State’s Office will not require an updated authorization. S. Waye moved to appoint Patricia D. Piecuch, Judith Boileau and Amanda Mazerolle to ElectioNet Roles of 390, Supervisors of the Checklist for an indefinite term and that their term only be terminated due to resignation or retirement. Seconded by P. Lucier. Motion passed. 8. City Clerk P. Piecuch explained the filing period for State Representative and Delegate to the Republican State Convention began on June 1st and will continue until June 10th. Currently staff was registering everyone by hand until such time as the filing period was over and then the entry would be made into ElectioNet. 9. New Business: City Clerk P. Piecuch said since K. Fogal wasn’t present, that at their next regular meeting, they would have to have their election of officers in accordance with the charter. Discussion ensued about the next meeting date and deadlines for registering to vote. The next regular Board meeting will be on Thursday, September 8, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. The meeting for the November election will be held on November 2, 2016 at 11 a.m. Both meetings will take place in Room 208. City Clerk P. Piecuch discussed two bills that were passed this past legislative session and is either waiting enrollment and signature by the Governor. SB509 relative to voter registration forms and relative to voter identity verification. This will change the voter registration forms for the next election, whereas they are adding in selections that registrars or supervisors will have to mark. Part of this bill would also require the Supervisors of Checklist/Registrars to assist the Secretary of State’s Office in the letters that are mailed out from their office. Currently if there are questions relative to return mail or no response, those are investigated or forwarded to the Attorney General’s Office. Under this new law it will allow the Secretary of State to work with the Supervisors/Registrars prior to sending them to the Attorney General. Also, HB1377 relative to absentee ballots, which now will allow absentee 2  ballots to be delivered to the City Clerk’s Office up to 5 p.m. on Election Day as well as delivered to the polls to the Ward Clerk. Discussion ensued on how this will be implemented and City Clerk Piecuch stated she would have to wait for guidance from the Secretary of State’s Office. City Clerk P. Piecuch presented to the Board, a voter registration form from a Joseph M. Brisk, who was trying to register to vote and was born in Canada. According to Mr. Brisk, he stated he was a Native American and as such was qualified to register to vote and did not need to prove citizenship. City Clerk Piecuch stated she was not aware of such a law that would allow him a right to register to vote. P. Lucier questioned whether he was a Native American Indian or Native American Canadian Indian. City Clerk Piecuch stated she was not sure. It was suggested to get a ruling from the Secretary of State’s Office to determine if Mr. Brisk would qualify as a U.S. Citizen. P. Lucier inquired as to the search of workers for the November election. City Clerk Piecuch replied that the process had not yet started and wouldn’t until July or August and would keep the Board informed. 10. S. Waye motioned to adjourn. Seconded by P. Lucier. Motion passed. Adjourned at 11:01 a.m. 3