HB 711-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0624
11/08
HOUSE BILL 711-FN
AN ACT relative to voting machine contractors.
SPONSORS: Rep. Bernardy, Rock. 36
COMMITTEE: Election Law
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires contractors who repair electronic ballot counting devices to register with the secretary of state and the attorney general. It also requires designated municipal officials to record a contractor's information prior to any repairs.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0624
11/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to voting machine contractors.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Electronic Ballot Counting Device Repair Contractors. Amend RSA 656 by inserting after section 42 the following new section:
656:42-a Electronic Ballot Counting Device Repair Contractors.
I. A contractor who repairs an electronic ballot counting device shall, prior to making any repair, register with the secretary of state and the attorney general in a manner prescribed by each, and obtain a registration number. In order to obtain a registration number, the contractor shall submit proof to the secretary of state and the attorney general that they are bonded and insured.
II. Prior to accessing the device, a contractor shall present to a designated municipal official a photographic identification card bearing their full name, their company's name, and their registration number. The official shall record the information in the device log. The contractor shall visibly display the identification at all times while in the vicinity of the device.
III. The secretary of state shall develop and provide training to appropriate municipal officials regarding the verification and recording of a repair contractor's identity and credentials.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
25-0624
Revised 1/28/25
HB 711-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to voting machine contractors.
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 | Indeterminable | Indeterminable | ||
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 contractors who repair electronic ballot counting devices to register with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General as well as requiring designated municipal officials to record a contractor's information prior to any repairs.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) indicates that the bill does not obligate the Department to enforce compliance with registration, bonding, and insurance requirements, nor does it establish any enforcement mechanisms like civil or criminal penalties. Consequently, it is unclear what additional workload the DOJ's Election Law Unit would face. As a result, the estimated expenditure increase is indeterminable but currently expected to be under $10,000 to manage the additional process. However, this amount would rise if enforcement duties were included.
The Department of State indicates that this bill could have no fiscal impact or it could have a significant fiscal impact as the bill is unclear on the definitions of contractor and bond therefore creating an indeterminable fiscal impact.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Justice and Department of State
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 18, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| March 11, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
March 6, 2025: Executive Session: 03/11/2025 09:00 am LOB 306-308
Feb. 12, 2025: Public Hearing: 02/18/2025 10:00 am LOB 306-308
Jan. 22, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 3 P. 24