Bill Text: NH HB160 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced

New Hampshire House Bill 160

Introduced

Bill Title: Relative to the contents of the pre-election certificate.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 7-1)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-09 - Executive Session: 01/21/2025 11:45 am Legislative Office Building 306-308 [HB160 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2025-HB160-Introduced.html

HB 160 - AS INTRODUCED

2025 SESSION

25-0730

08/11

HOUSE BILL 160

AN ACT relative to the contents of the pre-election certificate.

SPONSORS: Rep. Burnham, Straf. 2; Rep. Ankarberg, Straf. 7; Rep. Berry, Hills. 44; Rep. Tom Mannion, Hills. 1; Rep. Panek, Hills. 1; Rep. Sellers, Graf. 18; Rep. Wherry, Hills. 13; Rep. Wood, Merr. 13

COMMITTEE: Election Law

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ANALYSIS

This bill adds to the contents of the pre-election certificate.

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

25-0730

08/11

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

AN ACT relative to the contents of the pre-election certificate.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Pre-Election Certificate. Amend RSA 658:32 to read as follows:

658:32 Pre-Election Certificate.

I. The secretary of state shall prepare and distribute to each town or ward clerk 3 copies of the pre-election certificate. When the ballots are counted, the moderator and clerk shall certify thereon the following:

(a) [Total number of ballots received.] The total number of absentee ballots received from the secretary of state.

(b) The number of absentee ballots mailed to voters.

(d) The number of absentee ballots remaining at the close of polls.

II. One copy shall be retained by the moderator for his or her records; one copy shall be retained by the clerk for his or her records, and one copy shall be forwarded by the clerk to the secretary of state with the election returns pursuant to RSA 659:75.

2 General Content of Return; Additional Information. Amend RSA 659:73, III to read as follows:

III. The moderator shall fill out a moderator's post-election certificate prepared by the secretary of state, which shall be recorded and signed by the moderator within 48 hours of the closing of the polls or other time ordered by the secretary of state and submitted to the clerk. The post-election certificate shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) The number of official ballots received from the secretary of state brought to the polling place by the city or town clerk on election day, excluding ballots marked as test ballots and used prior to election day to test an electronic ballot counting device.

(b) The number of official ballots cast on election day.

(d) If the polling place runs out of official ballots, the number of photocopied ballots used as official ballots and cast.

(e) The number of state absentee ballots cast.

(f) The number of federal offices only absentee ballots cast.

(g) The number of state write-in absentee ballots cast.

(h) The number of federal write-in absentee ballots cast.

(i) The number of general election ballots remaining.

(j) The total number of ballots cast.

(k) A comparison of the different methods of tallying ballots cast.

3 General Content of Return. Amend RSA 659:73, V-VI to read as follows:

V. [The moderator shall record and sign a ballots cast form prepared by the secretary of state within 48 hours of the closing of the polls, or other time ordered by the secretary of state, and shall submit the form to the secretary of state, with a copy to the clerk. The ballots cast form shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) The number of official election day ballots cast;

(b) The number of absentee ballots cast;

(d) The total number of ballots cast.

VI.] The town or city clerk may require that forms be completed under this section earlier than the time required by the secretary of state.

4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.