HB 474 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
20Mar2025... 0216h
2025 SESSION
25-0736
09/08
HOUSE BILL 474
AN ACT requiring a second witness at the counting of write-in votes.
SPONSORS: Rep. Burnham, Straf. 2; Rep. Wood, Merr. 13; Rep. Bailey, Straf. 2; Rep. Wherry, Hills. 13
COMMITTEE: Election Law
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill requires a second witness who is another sworn-in election official if a moderator uses a ballot counting device's printed or digitally displayed images to count write-in votes in place of examining each ballot to obtain the name of the person who received a write-in vote.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
20Mar2025... 0216h 25-0736
09/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT requiring a second witness at the counting of write-in votes.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Counting of Votes; Counting Write-In Votes. Amend RSA 659:64-a, I to read as follows:
I. In a town or city that uses a ballot counting device approved by the ballot law commission pursuant to RSA 656:40 and which prints or digitally displays an image of all write-in votes as part of the device's report of votes cast, a moderator may use the printed or digitally displayed images to count write-in votes in place of examining each ballot to obtain the name of the person who received a write-in vote. This counting shall take place in the presence of another sworn-in election official.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Feb. 6, 2025 | 2025-0216h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 28, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 4, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 4, 2025 | House | Floor Vote |
| April 15, 2025 | Senate | Hearing |
| April 24, 2025 | Senate | Floor Vote |
April 16, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 05/01/2025; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 19
April 9, 2025: Hearing: 04/15/2025, Room 103, LOB, 10:00 am; SC 17
March 24, 2025: Introduced 03/20/2025 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 9
March 20, 2025: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-0216h: MA VV 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 44
March 20, 2025: Amendment # 2025-0216h: AA VV 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 44
Feb. 6, 2025: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
Feb. 6, 2025: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0216h 02/04/2025 (Vote 10-7; RC)
Jan. 29, 2025: Executive Session: 02/04/2025 10:10 am LOB 306-308
Jan. 22, 2025: Public Hearing: 01/28/2025 01:30 pm LOB 306-308
Jan. 13, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 3 P. 12