Bill Text: NH HB344 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced

New Hampshire House Bill 344

Introduced

Bill Title: Enables the processing of absentee ballots before election day.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-08 - Introduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Election Law House Journal 2 P. 16 [HB344 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2025-HB344-Introduced.html

HB 344 - AS INTRODUCED

2025 SESSION

25-0661

08/02

HOUSE BILL 344

AN ACT enables the processing of absentee ballots before election day.

SPONSORS: Rep. Daniels, Hills. 43; Rep. Dargie, Hills. 43; Rep. Petrigno, Hills. 43; Rep. Wood, Merr. 13; Rep. Schamberg, Merr. 6; Rep. Flanagan, Hills. 45; Rep. B. Sullivan, Sull. 1; Sen. Gray, Dist 6

COMMITTEE: Election Law

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ANALYSIS

This bill enables the processing of absentee ballots before election day.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

25-0661

08/02

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

AN ACT enables the processing of absentee ballots before election day.

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

1 Opening the Absentee Ballot Outer Envelopes. Amend RSA 659:49-b to read as follows:

659:49-b Opening Absentee Ballot Outer Envelopes. The moderator or the moderator's designee may authorize the opening of absentee ballot outer envelopes [on election day] no more than one week prior to the time established for processing absentee ballots in RSA 659:49, provided that the opening of the outer envelopes occurs in public with notice of the time and place. The envelope containing the ballot shall not be removed from the outer envelope at such time, and the outer envelope containing the inner envelope shall be secured until it is processed pursuant to RSA 659:50.

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