HB1298 (2026) Compare Changes


Unchanged Version

Text to be removed highlighted in red.

1 Disposal and Retention Schedule; Electronic Ballot Counting Device External Storage Devices. Amend RSA 33-A:3-a, XXXVI-XXXVII to read as follows:

XXXVI. Elections-federal elections: ballots and absentee ballot applications, affidavit envelopes, lists, and electronic ballot counting device external storage devices: by the town clerk until the contest is settled and all appeals have expired or at least 22 months after the election, whichever is longer. Extra electronic ballot counting device external storage devices programmed for, but not used during the election are exempt from preservation.

XXXVII. Elections-not federal: ballots and absentee ballot applications, affidavit envelopes, lists, and electronic ballot counting device external storage devices: by the town clerk until the contest is settled and all appeals have expired or at least 60 days after the election, whichever is longer. Extra electronic ballot counting device external storage devices programmed for, but not used during the election are exempt from preservation.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Changed Version

Text to be added highlighted in green.

1 Disposal and Retention Schedule; Electronic Ballot Counting Device External Storage Devices. Amend RSA 33-A:3-a, XXXVI-XXXVII to read as follows:

XXXVI. Elections-federal elections: ballots and absentee ballot applications, affidavit envelopes, lists, and electronic ballot counting device external storage devices: by the town clerk until the contest is settled and all appeals have expired or at least 22 months after the election, whichever is longer. Extra electronic ballot counting device external storage devices programmed for, but not used during the election are exempt from preservation. The external storage devices of electronic ballot counting devices, including those that capture digital images, shall be disposed of in the same manner as ballots, absentee ballot applications, affidavit envelopes, and lists. Disposal may be achieved by either physically destroying the storage device or by secure erasure that permanently destroys all election-related data on the storage device, including election programming, vote tallies, and digital images.

XXXVII. Elections-not federal: ballots and absentee ballot applications, affidavit envelopes, lists, and electronic ballot counting device external storage devices: by the town clerk until the contest is settled and all appeals have expired or at least 60 days after the election, whichever is longer. Extra electronic ballot counting device external storage devices programmed for, but not used during the election are exempt from preservation. The external storage devices of electronic ballot counting devices, including those that capture digital images, shall be disposed of in the same manner as ballots, absentee ballot applications, affidavit envelopes, and lists. Disposal may be achieved by either physically destroying the storage device or by secure erasure that permanently destroys all election-related data on the storage device, including election programming, vote tallies, and digital images.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.