[ITD]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Correct me if I'm wrong but it seems the difference is that 50% articles are generated by the selectboard, while 60% articles are generated by a resident's petition along with at least 25 resident's signatures.

Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6 (mostly zoning issues) were all 50%-ers as they were generated by the selectboard.

Articles 1 & 7 were 60%-ers because they were generated by petition.
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Article 1 - "Shall we adopt the provisions of RSA40:13 (known as SB2) to allow official ballot voting on all issues before the Interlakes School District?"

results - 599-yes (57.1%) vs 450-no (42.9%)
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Article 7 - "Shall we adopt the provisions of RSA40:13 (known as SB2) to allow official ballot voting on all issues before the Town of Meredith?"

results - 616-yes (57.5%) vs 456-no (42.5%)
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Considering these numbers, I wonder if the 5-person, selectboard would be willing to put these two articles on the next ballot at the 50% level?

One of the reason that these articles get so much more participation than the town meeting is because the residents of Meredith prefer the SB-2 style of voting. It allows them to participate, and keeps them engaged in the process. By reading about it in the press during the one month between deliberative session and the ballot, they can learn all about the issues and then make a more educated vote.

The town meeting is more exclusionary as is shown by the numbers of residents who participate. A whole lot more residents will show up to an all-day, 7am - 7pm, voting booth ballot, with absentee voting allowed, than go to town meeting. This makes the SB-2 style of voting a more representative and more informed electorate for Meredith.

Last night's annual Town Meeting had a vote of 285-yes vs 73-no for the 2.3mil fire station expansion, and 304-yes vs 54-no for the 400k-567 acre Page Pond conservation area. So, that says the town meeting had a total of 358 voters, while the all-day vote for candidates and articles had a total of about 1060 voters. This lets us know that almost exactly three times the number of Meredith voters participated in the daytime ballot then did at the night time, town meeting. Yes, almost exactly THREE TIMES as many Meredith voters.

Meredith has about 6000 residents and about 4700 who are old enough to vote.

With the results from Tuesday's election now known, will the 5-member selectboard please consider putting it on the next ballot at the 50% level ?

Less, I think it has more to do with what the article does versus what the selectman want. SB-2 involves changing the form of government which typically requires a super majority. It depends on the town's charter and sometimes state rules, not somebody's whim. I'm sure Skip will provide a better explanation.