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HB 136 · 2025 · House · Election Law Committee

Extended absentee ballot delivery deadline

AI-generated

extending the time period for delivery of an absentee ballot from 5:00 p.m. to the close of the polls.

Extends the deadline for delivery of an absentee ballot from 5:00 p.m. to the close of the polling place on election day.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 20, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill extends the time period for delivery of an absentee ballot from 5:00 p.m. on election day to the close of the polling place.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as introduced. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“In any state election, a town or city clerk shall not accept any completed absentee ballots delivered to the clerk after [5:00 p.m.] the close of the polling place on election day except as provided in RSA 657:21-a, V and RSA 659:20-a.”
RSA 657:22
“The clerk shall record absentee ballots received after such time in the statewide centralized voter registration database with the return date and shall mark the ballot as rejected due to absentee ballot receipt after election day.”
RSA 657:22
“The clerk shall retain the unopened ballot until the time set for the destruction of other state election ballots as provided in RSA 659:100 at which time the envelopes shall likewise be destroyed, unopened and unexamined.”
RSA 657:22

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Jim MaggioreDPrimeDeputy Ranking Member· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. Bill BoydRClerk· Public Works and Highways
  • Rep. Kat McGheeDRanking Member· Science, Technology, and Energy
  • Rep. Marjorie SmithDRanking Member· Judiciary
  • Sen. Rebecca Perkins KwokaDMinority Leader

Also: Rep. Peggy BalboniD, Rep. Mike BordesR, Rep. Thomas SouthworthD, Rep. Dick ThackstonR, Sen. Debra AltschillerD

Public testimony

217 signed in online · 28 wrote testimony

66% support34% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“extending the time to bring in an absentee ballot will help cut down on voter confusion.”
— Ellen Farnum, Tamworthsupports
“Come on, the polls are open, people should be able to get their absentee ballot in by the time the polls close. This is arbitrary to say 5pm.”
— Tim Josephson, Canaansupports
“Absentee ballots should be delivered until the polls close to allow for the maximum Voices to be included in the vote.”
— Beverly Spiro, Peterboroughsupports
“Our ballots can be viewed as money. You need to have accountability for a valid request for an absentee ballot. We cannot have election integrity if we allow absentee ballots up until the close of polls.…”
— James Goodwin, Brentwoodopposes
“I am totally opposed to this bill. I believe in the traditional meaning of "absentee ballot"; a citizen who cannot vote on the day of the election in person due to extenuating circumstances like being in the military.…”
— Jim Avallon, North Hamptonopposes
“There is no logical reason for an Absentee voter missing the 5;00pm deadline on Election Day, when in fact, they can vote 30days prior to Election Day.…”
— Michael Bean, Ryeopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 11, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 20, 2025HouseDivisionInexpedient to LegislateAdopted203–169
    Overall
    55% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law1:44:16–1:46:071m 51slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law4:38:49–4:41:493mlocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floor3:51:59–3:56:244m 25slocated in the stream transcriptInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, division 203-169

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 2 P. 7
  2. Feb 4, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/04/2025 10:40 am LOB 306-308
  3. Feb 11, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/11/2025 10:10 am LOB 306-308
  4. Feb 11, 2025HouseMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/11/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC)
  5. Feb 14, 2025HouseMinority Committee Report: Ought to Pass
  6. Mar 20, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA DV 203-169 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 42

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.