HAMPTON FALLS — Voters turned out in force Tuesday and chose overwhelmingly not to rescind SB2 and return to the traditional Town Meeting.

The article was rejected by a preliminary vote tally of 440 against and 145 in favor.

Hampton Falls' town election usually garners about 400 voters, but this year about 600 people showed up to cast their ballots, according to Town Moderator J.P. Pontriand. He added that poll workers would be busy for a while before final results could be posted since there were a large number of write-ins on the ballots.

But, according to early results, operating budgets for both the town and school district passed, as did the citizens' petition article to increase the number of hours the town brush dump is open.

Selectman Lou Gargiulo ran unopposed for his third term in office, but there was a three-way race for two seats on the School Board. According to preliminary figures, Barbara Goodman and Renee Palm defeated Lena Jackson.

Goodman was the top vote-getter with 362 votes, followed by Palm with 304 and Jackson with 237 votes.

The large voter turnout could be the result of the citizens' petition to rescind SB2.

Article 25, to revert back to a Town Meeting form of government, was submitted by a citizens’ petition and signed by 78 residents. To pass, 60 percent, or three-fifths, of the voters needed to approve it.

The article not only drew lengthy discussion at deliberative session from those on both sides of the issue, but there was significant chatter on social media about it. Political signs promoting the article dotted the sides of Hampton Falls roadways in recent days.

This is not the first time a move was made to rescind SB2 – or the Official Ballot Law – to return to a traditional Town Meeting format. The last time this question appeared on the ballot, it nearly passed with about 58 percent approval, according to Town Administrator Rachel Webb.