I. All towns shall hold an election annually for the election of town officers on the second Tuesday in March, except those towns which have adopted an alternative date under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 40:14 or those towns which have adopted the provisions of N.H. Rev. Stat. § 31:94-a and have, by majority vote at a previous town meeting, decided to elect officers on the second Tuesday in May.
II. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph I of this section, any town which has adopted a municipal charter under the provisions of N.H. Rev. Stat. § 49-B:1-6 may establish the second Tuesday in March, the second Tuesday in May, or the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in odd-numbered years as the date for the election of town officers.
III. No town election shall be held in conjunction with the biennial election.
IV. Any local political subdivision which has not adopted N.H. Rev. Stat. § 40:13, the official ballot referendum form of meeting, but whose voting checklist comprises all or part of the checklist for a school district which has adopted an April or May election date under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 40:14, may, by vote of the legislative body, vote to coordinate its elections with the school district’s elections and to hold its elections on the same April or May date as the school district. Such local political subdivision may, in addition, vote to hold the second session of its annual meeting, for transacting all business not required to be voted on by official ballot, within 2 weeks of the election date at a time and date determined by the governing body. The joint elections shall be held at a time and place determined by, and shall be supervised by, the election officials of the local political subdivision, coordinated as set forth in N.H. Rev. Stat. § 671:25 and N.H. Rev. Stat. § 671:26, with costs allocated in the same manner as in previous years or as may be mutually agreed upon by the governing bodies. A vote under this paragraph may be rescinded by the local political subdivision in like manner. No vote under this section shall take effect until the annual election next following such vote.
V. (a) If the National Weather Service issues a weather event warning applicable to a town on a date when an election is scheduled, which the moderator reasonably believes may cause the roads to be hazardous or unsafe, or if an accident, fire, natural disaster, or other emergency occurs that the moderator reasonably believes may render use of the election location unsafe on the date of the election, then the moderator may, after consulting with town officials, postpone the election. To the extent practical, prior to making a decision to postpone, the moderator shall consult with the governing body, the clerk, and as appropriate for the circumstances the police chief, the fire chief, the road agent, and the local emergency management director. The moderator shall document any decision to postpone the election and notify the secretary of state by phone or electronic mail of the postponement within 2 hours of the decision to postpone.
(b) When a ballot to be used at an election which has been postponed contains questions that are to be voted on simultaneously by more than one town, such as those relating to village, school, or water districts, the postponement of an election shall apply to all towns voting on that issue at the election. The moderators of the towns involved, after consultation with respective town officials, shall communicate with each other to reach a consensus on the postponement. In such instances, one of the moderators shall be selected to document the communications and notify the secretary of state. If a consensus cannot be reached, the election shall be postponed if a majority of the moderators vote to postpone.
(c) The decision to postpone shall be made on the day immediately prior to the election at any time before 6:00 p.m.
(d) If the moderator postpones the town election as provided in this paragraph, the moderator shall document the decision and notify the secretary of state by telephone or electronic mail of the postponement within 2 hours of the decision to postpone.
(e) If a special state election is scheduled for the date of the town election, this section shall not apply.