Revision: July 17, 2026, 9:12 a.m.
CHAPTER 327
HB 1541-FN - FINAL VERSION
04/09/2026 1313s
4Jun2026... 2091CofC
4Jun2026... 2177EBA
2026 SESSION
26-2744
08/06
HOUSE BILL 1541-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. Porcelli, Rock. 19; Rep. Bernardy, Rock. 36; Rep. Burnham, Straf. 2; Rep. Kuttab, Rock. 17; Rep. Nelson, Rock. 13; Rep. See, Merr. 26; Rep. Wherry, Hills. 13; Rep. Wood, Merr. 13; Rep. Tenczar, Hills. 1; Rep. McGrath, Rock. 40; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. McGough, Dist 11
COMMITTEE: Election Law
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires the secretary of state to provide all voting precincts with secure containers for storing ballots.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
04/09/2026 1313s
4Jun2026... 2091CofC
4Jun2026... 2177EBA 26-2744
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:
327:1 Secretary of State to Prepare Containers, Sealers. Amend RSA 659:97 to read as follows:
659:97 Secretary of State to Prepare Containers, Sealers. The secretary of state shall, before any state and federal election, prepare and distribute to each town and ward clerk secure, durable, reusable, transportable, stackable and marked containers to be used for preserving ballots with locks, tamper-evident [and] sealers [to seal each such container] and registration or serial numbers for each marked container. [He] The secretary of state shall prepare special durable and easily transportable containers capable of being secured and with tamper-evident sealers to be used for preserving any special and separate ballots for questions to voters. The secretary of state shall prescribe the size and form of such containers, locks and tamper-evident sealers and shall prescribe the form of any endorsement blank printed upon the sealers, provided that the blank is in substance consistent with the provisions of RSA 659:95. The secretary of state shall prepare an annual progress report and will include the number of secure containers replaced, locations, and planned container replacement for the following year.
327:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
Approved: July 15, 2026
Effective Date: January 01, 2027