Bill Text: NH HB130 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relative to the arrangement of candidates on primary election ballots
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-27 - Executive Session: 03/04/2025 01:00 pm Legislative Office Building 306-308 [HB130 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2025-HB130-Introduced.html
HB 130-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0208
08/02
HOUSE BILL 130-FN
AN ACT relative to the arrangement of candidates on primary election ballots
SPONSORS: Rep. Flanagan, Hills. 45
COMMITTEE: Election Law
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires that whenever there are 2 or more candidates for nomination to the same office, that the names of such candidates shall be alternated on the ballot in such a way that they appear at the top of the ballot nearly an equal number of times.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0208
08/02
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to the arrangement of candidates on primary election ballots
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Order of Names. Amend RSA 656:24 to read as follows:
656:24 Order of Names. [With the exception of the office of state representative, whenever] Whenever there are 2 or more candidates for nomination to the same office, the names of such candidates shall be alternated on the state primary election ballots used so that each name shall appear thereon as nearly as may be an equal number of times at the top, at the bottom, and in each intermediate place, if any, of the list in which it belongs. [Names of candidates for nomination to the office of state representative shall be arranged in the alphabetical order of their surnames according to the alphabetization procedure established in RSA 656:5-a.]
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
25-0208
12/27/24
HB 130-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to the arrangement of candidates on primary election ballots
FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | ||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill requires that whenever there are two or more candidates for nomination to the same office, that the names of such candidates shall be alternated on the ballot in such a way that they appear at the top of the ballot nearly an equal number of times.
The Department of State indicates that this bill would necessitate significant changes to the ballot design, printing, distribution, testing, and training processes for local election officials. Furthermore, the ballot design system will require software upgrades. If the current system cannot accommodate the necessary changes, a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a new system would be needed, potentially increasing expenditures by an undetermined amount. Additionally, if a town or ward receiving these ballots utilizes an electronic ballot counting device, each device would need to be programmed to accept each ballot design. Each accessible voting system would also require programming to print each ballot design.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of State
