§ 21-A §103 — Registration appeals board

In a city or town that has a population of 5,000 or more, if a person is aggrieved by the decision of the registrar of voters to cancel that person's registration in the central voter registration system or to reject that person's voter registration application, that person may appeal in writing to the registration appeals board. The appeal must be filed within 30 days after receipt of notice of the registrar's decision.
1.
Population of 5,000 or over.
The registration appeals board consists of 3 members who must be appointed as follows: The municipal committee of each of the major political parties shall nominate one member, who must be enrolled in the party of the municipal committee that nominates the member, and the municipal officers shall appoint the persons nominated by the municipal committees and the 3rd member must be nominated by the clerk of the municipality and appointed by the municipal officers. The clerk of the municipality may give the municipal committees of the political parties a list of qualifications necessary for a person to fulfill the duties of the registration appeals board, and the municipal committees shall take those qualifications into consideration when nominating members to the board. The 2 members of the board nominated by the municipal committees of the major political parties may be members of the municipal committee nominating them and of the county or state committees of the political party that nominates them and may be members of a state or county delegation to a political convention. When a municipal committee nominates a member to the registration appeals board, it shall also nominate an alternate board member, who serves if the member nominated by the municipal committee is or becomes unable to serve. The municipal clerk may not serve as a member or alternate member of the registration appeals board.
2.
Population of 4,000 to 5,000.
3.
Term of office.
Each member nominated by the municipal committees of the major political parties and appointed to the board shall serve for 3 years and until the member's successor is appointed and sworn. The member nominated by the clerk of the municipality and appointed to the board shall serve for 4 years and until that member's successor is appointed and sworn.
4.
Chair of the board.
The member nominated by the clerk of the municipality is chair of the board.
5.
Vacancy.
When there is a vacancy on the board, the alternate board member nominated by the municipal committee of the political party of the former incumbent shall serve. If an alternate is not available, the municipal officers shall appoint a qualified person nominated by the municipal committee of the party of the former incumbent to fill the vacancy. If the vacancy is in the office of the chair of the board, the municipal officers shall appoint a qualified person nominated by the clerk of the municipality to fill the vacancy. Vacancies must be filled for the remainder of the term of office.
6.
Appeal hearing.
Upon receipt of a complaint by a person aggrieved by the decision of the registrar, the chair of the registration appeals board shall immediately fix a time and place for the board to meet for a prompt hearing. The voter must be given written notice of the hearing at least 20 days in advance and must have the opportunity to testify and to present witnesses and other evidence at the hearing. The hearing is de novo. After hearing, the board may affirm, modify or reverse the decision of the registrar of voters. The board shall issue the decision to the voter in writing and shall provide information on how the voter may appeal the decision. The aggrieved person may appeal the decision of the board to the Superior Court in accordance with Rule 80B of the Rules of Civil Procedure.
7.
Actions of the registration appeals board.
A registration appeals board may only act by unanimous or majority action.
8.
Removal from office.
A member of the board may be removed from office at any time during the member's term by the appointing authority if the appropriate nominating authority nominates a replacement. Any replacement member shall serve out the remainder of the replaced member's term.

Legislative History

PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW). PL 1985, c. 614, §4 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 466, §§2,3 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 862, §§1,2 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 56, §§1,2 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 56, §3 (AFF). PL 1995, c. 459, §§4-11 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 436, §19 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 426, §§4,5 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 453, §9 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 455, §4 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 253, §9 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 371, §4 (AMD). RR 2019, c. 2, Pt. B, §35 (COR).