HB 464 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
6Mar2025... 0196h
2025 SESSION
25-0746
08/11
HOUSE BILL 464
AN ACT prohibiting certain candidates for political office from participating in counting ballots.
SPONSORS: Rep. de Vries, Rock. 29; Rep. H. Howard, Straf. 4
COMMITTEE: Election Law
-----------------------------------------------------------------
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill prohibits certain candidates for political office from participating in counting ballots.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
6Mar2025... 0196h 25-0746
08/11
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT prohibiting certain candidates for political office from participating in counting ballots.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Counting Ballots; Election Morning Procedures. Amend RSA 658:31 to read as follows:
658:31 Counting Ballots. At or prior to the opening of the polls in each town or ward, the seal of the packages shall be publicly broken by the town or ward clerk; and the ballots shall be given to the ballot clerks and the ballots shall be examined and counted by the election officers in the presence of the clerk, the moderator, and at least one other legal voter. If the ballots are counted prior to the opening of the polls, the clerk shall post, in an appropriate place and prior to election day, notice of the time and place of the counting. With the exception of candidates standing for the office of moderator, assistant moderator, clerk, selectperson, inspector of election, and supervisor of the checklist, no person who appears on the ballot shall count ballots prior to the election.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Feb. 13, 2025 | 2025-0196h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 4, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 11, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 11, 2025 | House | Floor Vote |
March 12, 2025: Introduced 03/06/2025 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 7
March 6, 2025: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-0196h: MA VV 03/06/2025 HJ 7
March 6, 2025: Amendment # 2025-0196h: AA VV 03/06/2025 HJ 7
Feb. 14, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0196h (NT) 02/11/2025 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 14 P. 7
Feb. 7, 2025: Executive Session: 02/11/2025 10:10 am LOB 306-308
Jan. 29, 2025: Public Hearing: 02/04/2025 11:40 am LOB 306-308
Jan. 10, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 3 P. 11