BALLOT QUESTION 1 – KENO PROHIBITION
Shall we prohibit the operation of keno games within the City of Keene?
This question asks whether voters want to prohibit the operation of keno games in the City of Keene.
In 2017, the State of New Hampshire legalized the lottery game keno for sale by specific lottery retailers. Keno is a “game where a player purchases a ticket from a field of 80 numbers and selects a specific amount of numbers.” A random number generator chooses 20 numbers at random to determine a match against the selected numbers. A drawing occurs every five minutes daily.
When this legislation was passed in 2017, cities and towns were required to authorize the operation of keno within the municipality before it could be offered. The question was placed on the Municipal ballot in Keene in 2017 and again in 2019 and failed to pass. The State recently amended RSA 284:51 which now states that keno is authorized unless the city or town votes to prohibit the operation of the game.
A yes vote to this question signifies the voter is in favor of prohibiting the operation of keno in the City of Keene.
A no vote to this question signifies the voter is in favor of allowing the operation of keno in the City in accordance with the Lottery Commission’s laws and regulations.
Should the majority of voters vote yes to the question, the City will inform the Lottery Commission that the game has been prohibited in the City and no keno licenses may be issued to retailers within the City of Keene.
Should the majority of voters vote no to the question, lottery retailers in the City will be eligible to receive a keno license and operate the game beginning on June 1, 2027.
In either outcome, the City may reconsider this issue in future elections.
BALLOT QUESTION 2 – SOCIAL DISTRICTS AUTHORIZATION
Shall we allow the operation of social districts within the City of Keene?
This question asks whether voters would like to authorize the City of Keene to establish “social districts” within the City. The State of New Hampshire recently passed RSA 178:33-38, legalizing social districts within the State subject to local voter approval. A social district is a defined outdoor area in which a person may consume alcoholic beverages sold by a liquor licensee. This would be a public outdoor area beyond the premises of the bar, restaurant, or property of the liquor licensee(s) where people could consume beverages purchased at a licensee’s establishments within the district in clearly labeled containers that are specific to the licensee and district. Individuals would not be permitted to bring outside alcohol into these districts and may not carry alcohol outside of the district.
A yes vote to this question signifies the voter wishes to authorize the City Council to establish social districts.
A no vote to this question signifies the voter wishes to forbid the City Council from establishing social districts.
If a majority of voters vote yes to this question, the City Council may, through passage of a local Ordinance, establish a social district by creating the boundaries of the district, identifying the days and hours of operation for the district, and adopting a plan to manage and maintain the district. The operation of the district must conform to the legal requirements under RSA 178:33-38 and administrative rules adopted by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission.
In either outcome, the City may reconsider this issue in future elections.