Governor John Lynch (D-NH) will sign legislation next month appointing a seven member commission to examine and recommend options to establish a system of public funding of elections.

The commission membership will be bipartisan and will conduct a series of public hearings starting in July around the state to solicit input from New Hampshire citizens. Maine and Arizona have had public funding of elections since 1998, and the experience of these two states will be part of the commission's work.

The commission will issue its report in December of 2008, and it is expected that legislation to implement public funding in the Granite State will be filed for the 2009 legislative session.

Photo by Kevin Ross