Lawsuit Targets November Ballot Question on School Funding

A New Hampshire court is weighing a challenge to the wording of a November ballot measure that would ask voters whether property taxes for local schools should be limited.

A New Hampshire court is weighing a challenge to the wording of a November ballot measure that would ask voters whether property taxes for local schools should be limited.

The dispute was heard Friday, with the plaintiffs arguing that the proposed question conflicts with the state Constitution. The Secretary of State’s Office responded that any alteration would run afoul of state law. The judge said he would review the arguments but did not set a date for a ruling.

The issue stems from a decision by lawmakers in July to place the tax question before voters. According to the plaintiffs, the language is too vague and could mislead people about what they are being asked to approve. Their attorney said the ballot wording should give voters a straightforward understanding of the choice in front of them.

State attorneys countered that election materials must be finalized by next week, leaving little time for any court intervention. A senior assistant attorney general warned that blocking the measure now could prevent a major portion of the law from taking effect on schedule and said a decision would need to come quickly if the court were inclined to step in.

The plaintiffs said their case is not about the policy itself, but about whether the ballot wording fairly describes how the change could affect local schools.