Amherst Election Results 2012

President/Vice-President of the U.S. Amherst     Barack Obama/Joe Biden (D) 3501 Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan (R) 3906 Gary Johnson/James P. Gray (L) 100 Virgil Goode/James Clymer (C) 1 New Hampshire Governor (1 seat)  Amherst     Ovide Lamontagne (R) 3532 Maggie Hassan (D) 3610 John J. Babiarz (L) 186 Congress 2nd District (1 seat) Amherst Charles Bass (R) 3831 Ann McLane Kuster (D) 3125 Hardy Macia (I) 282 Executive Councilor District 5 (1 seat) Amherst Debora B. Pignatelli (D) 3185 David K. Wheeler (R) 3504 State Senator (1 seat) Amherst Peter Bragdon (R) 4286 State Rep. District 22 (3 seats) Amherst Robert Rowe (R) 2925 Stephen Stepanek (R) 2876 Peter Hansen (R) 2895 Shannon E. Chandley (D) 3018 Stephen V. Morgan (D) 2154 John L. Shonle (D) 1702 Bob Heaton (RTC) 1475 Cynthia Dokmo (RTC) 1701 State Rep. District 41 (1 seat) Amherst Laurie Sanborn (R) 3611 Len Gerzon (D) 2957 Hillsborough County Sheriff (1 seat) Amherst James A. Hardy (R)     3692 Bill Barry (D) 2757 Hillsborough County Attorney (1 seat)  Amherst     Patricia M. LaFrance (D) 2978 Dennis Hogan (R) 3371 County Treasurer (1 seat)   Amherst   David G. Fredette (R) 3466 Shannon Bernier (D) 2794

Register of Deeds (1 seat)   Amherst    Pamela D. Coughlin (R) 3709 Louise Wright (D) 2644

Register of Probate (1 seat) Amherst Graham V. Smith (D) 2889 Joseph Kelly Levasseur (R) 3330

County Commissioner (1 seat)

  Amherst    Carol H. Holden (R) 3588 Susan Ladmer (D) 2378 James B. Parker (L) 474

2012 Constitutional Amendment Questions

Yes No 1. “Are you in favor of amending the second part of the constitution by inserting after article 5-b a new article to read as follows: [Art.] 5-c. [Income Tax Prohibited.] Notwithstanding any general or special provision of this constitution, the general court shall not have the power or authority to impose and levy any assessment, rate, or tax upon income earned by any natural person; however, nothing in this Article shall be construed to prohibit any tax in effect on January 1, 2012, or adjustment to the rate of such a tax.” (Passed by the N.H. House 256 Yes 110 No; Passed by State Senate 19 Yes 4 No) CACR 13 3918 2770 2. “Are you in favor of amending article 73-a of the second part of the constitution to read as follows: [Art.] 73-a [Supreme Court, Administration.] The chief justice of the supreme court shall be the administrative head of all the courts. The chief justice shall, with the concurrence of a majority of the supreme court justices, make rules governing the administration of all courts in the state and the practice and procedure to be followed in all such courts. The rules so promulgated shall have the force and effect of law. The legislature shall have a concurrent power to regulate the same matters by statute. In the event of a conflict between a statute and a court rule, the statute, if not otherwise contrary to this constitution, shall prevail over the rule.” (Passed by the N.H. House 242 Yes 96 No; Passed by State Senate 19 Yes 5 No) CACR 26 3312 3121

3. “Shall there be a convention to amend or revise the constitution?

2279 4150

3:30 PM:

It is a busy day at the polls in Amherst as a steady flow of voters make their way to Souhegan High School.

Town moderator Steve Coughlan said that the turnout has been very strong since the polls opened this morning, and they are on track for a record for both number and percentage of citizens voting.

Almost 100 voters were waiting outside of the doors early this morning and volunteers have already registered over 200 new voters. 

Coughlan said that there have only been a few issues with the new voter identification requirements, but they haven't interfered with the process.

Supporters on both sides are excited and confident that their party will be victorious in today's election.

I think every Democrat in the country is coming out to vote today," said local Democratic activist Nan Stearns. "This is the most important election of our lifetime."

She said that she is thrilled about seeing women democrats in the spotlight in this year's election, and expects a clean sweep for Democrats once the results roll in.

"I am just optimistic, hopeful, joyful and I feel great," said Stearns.

She added that Obama needs to be re-elected to continue the positive changes happening in the country.

Amherst Republican Committee chairman Mark Vincent said he thinks Romney will take the election by a "subsantial margin." He is not worried about national polls that give the edge to President Barack Obama.

"There have been so many polls this entire election, and they are all weighted differently," he said. "Pollsters are very good at determining how people will vote, but they are very poor at determining who will vote."

It is the "who" that gives him confidence as he sees the large turnout of voters that he believes are not only fed up with the current administration, but also believe in Romney

"We need to start moving in a dif direction in this country, and Romney is the one to do that," he said. "Mitt Romney as a candidate has done a great job over the past couple months to turn this from a 'throw out the incumbent sentiment' to 'I want this guy in charge.'"

Original Story:

It is finally election day and a big turnout is expected in today's general election.

Voters in Amherst will line up at Souhegan High School today from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. to cast their choice for the next leaders in their communities, state and nation.

Amherst has been designated as a "bellwether" town, which could give an early sign to the final election results. University of New Hampshire political science professor Dante Scala said that towns like Amherst lean Republican, but not by much. Taking a town like Amherst would be good news for President Barack Obama.

The Democratic candidate took Amherst in 2008 by 286 votes. As an important swing state, it remains to be seen where New Hampshire citizens will place their vote this year.