SB 44 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
03/13/2025 0730s
2025 SESSION
25-0931
08/09
SENATE BILL 44
AN ACT relative to hand counts of ballots in elections.
SPONSORS: Sen. Avard, Dist 12
COMMITTEE: Election Law and Municipal Affairs
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill allows a voter voting in a precinct with electronic ballot counting devices to request that his or her vote be counted by hand.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/13/2025 0730s 25-0931
08/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to hand counts of ballots in elections.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Hand Count. Amend RSA 659 by inserting after section 23-a the following new section:
659:23-b Machine Count; Hand Count. In precincts where an electronic ballot counting device is used, a voter may request that his or her ballot be counted by hand at the time the voter presents his or her ballot to the moderator. The moderator shall deposit the ballot in the compartment on the side of the electronic ballot counting device.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| March 4, 2025 | 2025-0730s |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 21, 2025 | Senate | Hearing |
| Senate | Floor Vote | |
| March 13, 2025 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| April 22, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| April 29, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
April 8, 2025: Executive Session: 04/29/2025 10:00 am LOB 306-308
April 8, 2025: Public Hearing: 04/22/2025 10:00 am LOB 306-308
March 28, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 11
March 13, 2025: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0730s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
March 13, 2025: Committee Amendment # 2025-0730s, AA, VV; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
March 7, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0730s, 03/13/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 12
March 5, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0730s; 5-0, CC SC 12
Jan. 16, 2025: Hearing: 01/21/2025, Room 103, LOB, 09:30 am; SC 7
Jan. 9, 2025: Introduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 3