HB 1272 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
11Mar2026... 0947h
2026 SESSION
26-2836
08/06
HOUSE BILL 1272
SPONSORS: Rep. Wherry, Hills. 13; Rep. Ford, Rock. 3; Rep. McGrath, Rock. 40; Rep. Mary Murphy, Hills. 27; Rep. Pauer, Hills. 36; Rep. R. Brown, Carr. 8; Rep. Sellers, Graf. 10; Rep. Tom Mannion, Hills. 1
COMMITTEE: Election Law
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill provides an option for each candidate's party affiliation to be printed on the town or school district ballot.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
11Mar2026... 0947h 26-2836
08/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Party Affiliation on the Official Ballot; Ballot Systems; Town Elections. Amend RSA 669 by inserting after section 13 the following new section:
669:13-a Party Affiliation on the Official Ballot.
I. Any town that has adopted an official ballot system under RSA 669:12 or RSA 669:13 may vote to include on the official ballot each candidate’s party affiliation after the candidate’s name, unless waived by the candidate, under an article in the warrant for any town meeting. The town clerk shall cause to be printed on the official ballot the question, "Shall the official ballot contain the party affiliation of each candidate, appearing after each candidate’s name, pursuant to RSA 669:13-a, I?”, which question shall be followed by boxes in which the voter may indicate "Yes" or "No". If the majority of the qualified voters present and voting at such meeting shall answer said question in the affirmative, the party affiliation of candidates shall be included on future official ballots, until rescinded or until the unofficial ballot system is adopted. The party affiliation shall be the candidate’s party affiliation listed on the town’s voter checklist at the time the candidate declares candidacy and shall be denoted on the ballot after the candidate’s name using the first 3 letters of the name of the party in parentheses or “(UND)” if candidate has no declared party. When filing for office, a candidate may notify the town clerk that no party affiliation shall appear after their name on the official ballot.
II. Any town that has adopted the provisions of RSA 669:13-a, I may vote to rescind these provisions under an article in the warrant for any town meeting. The town clerk shall cause to be printed on the official ballot the question, "Shall the official ballot no longer contain the party affiliation of each candidate, pursuant to RSA 669:13-a, II?”, which question shall be followed by boxes in which the voter may indicate "Yes" or "No". If the majority of the qualified voters present and voting at such meeting shall answer said question in the affirmative, the party affiliation of candidates shall no longer be included on future official ballots. The provisions of RSA 669:13-a, I shall also be rescinded if the town adopts the unofficial ballot system.
2 New Paragraphs; Preparation of Ballots; By School District Clerk. Amend RSA 671:20 by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraphs:
III. Any school district may vote to include on the official ballot each candidate’s party affiliation after the candidate’s name, unless waived by the candidate, under an article in the warrant for any town meeting. The school district clerk shall cause to be printed on the official ballot the question, "Shall the official ballot contain the party affiliation of each candidate, appearing after each candidate’s name, pursuant to RSA 671:20, III?”, which question shall be followed by boxes in which the voter may indicate "Yes" or "No". If the majority of the qualified voters present and voting at such meeting shall answer said question in the affirmative, the party affiliation of candidates shall be included on future official ballots, until rescinded pursuant to RSA 671:20, IV. The party affiliation shall be the candidate’s party affiliation listed on the town’s voter checklist, where the candidate is registered to vote, at the time the candidate declares candidacy and shall be denoted on the ballot after the candidate’s name using the first 3 letters of the name of the party in parentheses or “(UND)” if candidate has no declared party. When filing for office, a candidate may notify the school district clerk that no party affiliation shall appear after their name on the official ballot.
IV. Any school district that has adopted the provisions of RSA 671:20, III may vote to rescind these provisions under an article in the warrant for any school district meeting. The school district clerk shall cause to be printed on the official ballot the question, "Shall the official ballot no longer contain the party affiliation of each candidate, pursuant to RSA 671:20, III?”, which question shall be followed by boxes in which the voter may indicate "Yes" or "No". If the majority of the qualified voters present and voting at such meeting shall answer said question in the affirmative, the party affiliation of candidates shall no longer be included on future official ballots.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| March 4, 2026 | 2026-0947h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 17, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| March 3, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| March 3, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
| March 31, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| Senate | Floor Vote |
April 6, 2026: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate, 04/16/2026, Vote 4-0, CC; SC 14
March 25, 2026: Hearing: 03/31/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 01:30 pm; SC 12
March 17, 2026: Introduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 7
March 11, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0947h: MA DV 171-156 03/11/2026 HJ 7
March 11, 2026: Amendment # 2026-0947h: AA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7
March 4, 2026: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
March 4, 2026: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0947h 03/03/2026 (Vote 9-7; RC) HC 10 P. 41
Feb. 18, 2026: Executive Session: 03/03/2026 10:00 am GP 158
Feb. 12, 2026: Public Hearing: 02/17/2026 11:20 am GP 158
Dec. 1, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Election Law HJ 1 P. 13