Election of the Speaker

Written by Andrew Horn of Amherst, NH.

Read Part Three: Speaker Nominations here.

The Clerk bangs his gavel. “At this time—see this is the fun time because I have to choose who goes and who doesn’t and some people get mad, and I still have to get elected by you, so I don’t want to make anybody mad.”

Some representatives laugh.

“This time, please as I mentioned make note of the boxes and where they are. At this time, I will call division three to cast their ballots.”

Many Representatives boo as division three rises to cast their ballots.

Voting takes a long time. Members line up for each of the four boxes and chat among themselves. “After you have cast your ballot, please return to your seats,” says the Clerk. He stands straight, slowly swaying in front of the chair, the well empty in front of him, his hands folded in front. Sometimes he relaxes, putting his hands on the desk, looking down, revealing the grey vest of his three-piece suit.

Division three of five, in the center of the room, remains largely empty while the lines to the ballot boxes dry up. Each ballot box has two members of the Clerk’s staff talking with each other, one hand on each box.

The Clerk calls division four, to the right. Later, the Clerk says, “Members are reminded to return to your seats and not clog the aisles so that more divisions can be called to vote. Thank you.” The Clerk calls division two, to the left. Later, the Clerk calls both divisions one and five, at the far left and right of the chamber.

It takes half an hour for all divisions—almost 400 Representatives—to cast their votes. One Representative wears visible headphones. One Representative casts her ballot while holding a baby. One Representative loiters in the corner. With a bright red suit, red tie, pink shirt, large white beard, and portly figure, I wonder if he meant to look like Santa Claus to remind people of the coming Christmas holiday.

The Clerk says, “Have all members cast their ballots? You have thirty seconds to make your way to the ballot box before I close the ballot.” He walks over to the right to speak to someone in division five before returning to the dais and banging his gavel three times. “With all members having cast their ballots, I hereby—oop.”

A Representative in purple holds up a ballot and shuffles to the front-left ballot box.

“Now, with all members having cast their ballots, I declare the balloting closed. Will the staff in the rear please bring the ballot boxes forward. Ladies and gentlemen, if you need to have conversations, please remove yourself to the anteroom while I give instructions.” He bangs the gavel three times. “I’m not afraid to use the gavel.”

Light laughter from the body.

“Uh, the boxes themselves, so, I see a gaggle of people around some boxes over here, please remove yourselves kindly. Deputy Speakers included.”

At the Clerk’s direction, the ballot counters start to empty the orange ballots onto the white folding tables on either side of the well. The Clerk says, “While you’re all here and attentively listening, I have a message from the Senate. The Senate has organized and elected its officers. As President of the Senate, Senator Sharon M. Carson. As Clerk of the Senate, Tammy Wright. We have the read that. It’s a formality.”

Six people, including the Clerk, bend over the orange ballots on the right while three count on the left table. Two flat screens on either side of the dais read, “Election of the Speaker.” A Representative in a robin’s egg blue dress dances her way into the chamber before squatting next to past and likely future Deputy Speaker Steven Smith. For a time, Rep. Packard sits alone on a bench next to the door, sometimes glancing at the ballots being counted.

After fifteen minutes of tallying ballots, the Clerk bangs the gavel four times. “Members will take their seats. I have results, so please take your seats.” He bangs the gavel three more times.

“The House will be in order. Just for clarity’s sake, the intention is to continue session until we are finished. There’s a reception afterward, so you can get some food there. 388 votes were cast, 195 being necessary to win. There’s 7 blank ballots. There’s 17 scatter ballots. There were 162 ballots cast for Rep. Alexis Simpson and 202 for Rep. Sherman Packard.”

Standing applause.

“The House—the House will be in order. The Chair recognizes Representative Simpson.”

Rep. Simpson says, “Mr. Chair, I move that we cast one ballot unanimously for Speaker Sherman Packard.”

The Clerk says, “Are you ready for the question. All those in favor say, aye.”

Many say aye.

“All those opposed, nay.”

Silence.

“The ayes have it.” The Clerk bangs the gavel once and beckons the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort Speaker Packard to the dais, and the Clerk hands over the gavel and takes his place in the well, to the left of the Speaker, his normal station during session.

The Speaker says, “Well, I don’t think I need to say anything more than what I’ve said before except thank you for entrusting me one more time to be Speaker of the New Hampshire House, and now the fun starts. Uh, we have to find seats for all of you. We have to find parking places for all of you. We have to find committees for all of you. And that’s just the beginning, so that’s what we’ll be doing for the next month solid is working on all of these things and getting you all ready to go. What I said before in my acceptance speech is what I, uh, truly believe, and what I intend on governing by. So, with that, let’s move on, so I guess we have a reception afterwards at some point? At some point.”

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Part Five Coming Soon…