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HB 367 · 2025 · House · Election Law Committee

Partisan town election adoption process

AI-generated

changing the method for adopting partisan town elections to be the same as rescinding partisan town elections.

Changes the method for adopting partisan town elections to match the method for rescinding partisan town elections.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 22, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill changes the method for adopting partisan town elections to be the same as rescinding partisan town elections.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“If a town has not voted at a previous town meeting to adopt an official ballot system as provided in RSA 669:12 or 669:13 [or if a town has voted to rescind such adoption], such town shall elect its officers by means of the unofficial ballot system as provided in RSA 669:54-669:60.”
RSA 669:11
“If a town, having either a partisan ballot system or a non-partisan ballot system, wishes to adopt an unofficial ballot system, then using the existing official ballot system, adoption of the unofficial ballot system shall be by ballot.”
RSA 669:11-a
“Any town may vote to adopt the partisan official ballot system for election of town officers under an article in the warrant for any town meeting[, and may rescind such action in like manner] using the procedure in RSA 669:13.”
RSA 669:12
“A town may vote to adopt the non-partisan official ballot system for election of town officers under an article in the warrant for any town meeting[, and may rescind such action in like manner] using the procedure in this section.”
RSA 669:13

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Robert WherryRPrimeChair· Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy
  • Rep. Juliet Harvey-BoliaRDeputy Majority Floor Leader
  • Rep. Diane PauerRChair· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. James CreightonRChair· Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Also: Rep. Deborah AylwardR, Rep. Ralph BoehmR

Public testimony

281 signed in online · 30 wrote testimony

2% support98% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This bill represents an important step forward by standardizing the process for both adopting and rescinding partisan town elections, and I firmly believe it will contribute to a clearer, more transparent electoral framework.…”
— Blossom Dodge, Concordsupports
“Passing this bill would solve the number one complaint the voters say to poll workers at EVERY local election.”
— Carol Petrusewicz, Rochestersupports
“We need less partisanship, not more. I am an undeclared voter and member of the majority party in NH.”
— Deborah Sumner, Jaffreyopposes
“All votes on todays bills remanding elections will be counted, printed and mailed to constituents with narrative of implications to them.”
— AnneMarie Winkler, Doveropposes
“Decisions about education should be about the best interest of children and our future, not about politics.”
— Natalie Buelvas, Doveropposes

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
  • Mar 11, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass10–7
    Overall
    59% yea
  • Mar 27, 2025HouseVoice voteFloor amendment 2025-1354h (Rep. Berry)adopted
  • Mar 27, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1354hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 22, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass4–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 22, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Jun 26, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2881eadopted
  • Jun 26, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law3:39:20–3:43:554m 35slocated in the stream transcriptExecutive Session
  • Mar 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law27:12–31:204m 8slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call
  • Mar 27, 2025Floor debateHouse floor2:03:29–2:05:342m 5slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1354h — adopted, voice vote; FLAM # 2025-1354h (Rep. Berry) — adopted, voice vote
  • May 6, 2025Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs35:01–38:043m 3slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 22, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 26, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2881e Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2881e — adopted, voice vote; Enrolled (in recess)

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. 17
  2. Feb 25, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/25/2025 10:40 am LOB 306-308
  3. Mar 4, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/04/2025 01:00 pm LOB 306-308
  4. Mar 11, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 03/11/2025 (Vote 10-7; RC) HC 17 P. 56
  5. Mar 19, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 27, 2025HouseFLAM # 2025-1354h (Rep. Berry): AA VV 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 29
  7. Mar 27, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1354h: MA VV 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 30
  8. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 10
  9. May 6, 2025SenHearing: 05/06/2025, Room 103, LOB, 09:30 am; SC 20
  10. May 22, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 05/22/2025; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 22
  11. May 22, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/22/2025; SJ 14
  12. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2881e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  13. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2881e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 56
  14. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 59
  15. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  16. Jul 15, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/15/2025; Chapter 181; eff. 09/13/2025 HJ 18

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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