Town Meeting and SB2 in New Hampshire

New Hampshire’s system of Town Meeting is one of the oldest forms of direct democracy in the United States. In towns across the state, registered voters gather each year to discuss and vote on local questions that affect their communities.

To help explain how the process works, the New Hampshire Department of Education developed a short animation about Town Meeting and the Official Ballot Referendum System (SB2).

JinJa Birkenbeuel and her team at Birkdesign Inc. created the animation to translate the mechanics of Town Meeting into a clear and accessible visual guide. Using simple characters, plain language narration, and step-by-step visual storytelling, the piece walks viewers through how local decisions move from discussion to final vote.

The project was developed by Birkdesign from initial research and scriptwriting through illustration, voiceover, and music.

It also introduces School District Meetings, where voters decide school budgets and other education-related questions.

The result is a concise explainer designed to help residents better understand how local decisions are made in New Hampshire communities.