Copyright keenesentinel
The seasons change, and so does the weather — but not, it seems, Keene voters' stance on keno, which they shot down Tuesday for the third time since 2017. Those who voted in Keene's municipal elections also rejected a second ballot measure that would have allowed social districts in the city. Residents in all five of the city's wards opposed bringing keno to Keene. The citywide tally was 2,207-1,022 Though Keene voters have been asked about keno in the past, Tuesday's question was different than the previous two votes because of a change in state law that now requires municipalities to opt out of keno rather than opt in. Had Keene voters not approved prohibiting it, the game would have become legal in the city in 2027. The money generated from keno and other lottery games is used to fund public schools, according to the state lottery commission. Before Tuesday’s elections, about 65 percent of New Hampshire’s population lived in a place where keno is allowed, per the commission. Concord and Portsmouth, New Hampshire's two other major municipalities in the state that don't have keno, likewise rejected it Tuesday. New to Keene ballots was Tuesday's question about social districts, or designated outdoor areas within the city where people would have been permitted to have open containers of alcohol from businesses choosing to participate in the program. Social districts became legal in the state in September for municipalities that vote to have them. Had Keene voters approved them, state liquor license-holders would have had to opt in and adhere to certain rules, such as serving alcohol in a special cup that includes the business’ name. Even if social districts had been approved in Keene, city councilors would have had to pass an ordinance regulating where and when they would have been in place. During conversations, a few councilors expressed strong opposition to the concept. Adding social districts to Keene failed in every ward, and overall 1,980-1,172. Four other municipalities also had social districts on their ballots: Concord, Portsmouth, Laconia and Nashua. Of those four, Concord and Laconia voters voted to approve them.
