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HB 395 · 2025 · House · Election Law Committee

Election inspectors observing checklists

AI-generated

empowering inspectors of the election to observe duties performed by supervisors of the checklist.

Empowers election inspectors to observe all election-related duties performed by supervisors of the checklist and requires vacancies on the board of supervisors to be filled within 45 days by the city or town moderator.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 26, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Empowers inspectors of election to observe all election-related duties performed by supervisors of the checklist. II. Requires vacancies in the board of supervisors to be filled within 45 days by the city or town moderator.

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

“Each state political committee of the 2 political parties which received the largest number of votes cast for governor at the last previous general election is authorized through their respective chairmen to appoint between May 15 and July 15 of each general election year 2 inspectors of election to act at each polling place.”
RSA 658:2
“Vacancies in the board of supervisors shall be filled within 45 days by appointment made by the moderator.”
RSA 669:64
“If the number of voters qualified to vote at a polling place shall exceed 2,000, said political committees may each appoint for such polling place one additional inspector for each 1,500 qualified voters or fraction thereof in excess of 2,000.”
RSA 658:2
“By April 15 of each general election year, the secretary of state shall provide a list to the chairman of each such state political committee of the number of inspectors of election that should be appointed for each town or ward.”
RSA 658:2

Official record

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Pam BrownRPrimeClerk· Education Funding

Public testimony

82 signed in online · 17 wrote testimony

5% support94% oppose1% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This bill supports the intent of full transparency. We the People should always have full transparency from our government. This bill supports Part 1 Article 8 of NH Constitution.”
— Carol Petrusewicz, Rochestersupports
“I support this Bill which is a win-win for the supervisors of the checklist and the the residents. The supervisors of the checklist can never be accused of any malfeasance since the inspectors of the election now have the opportunity to review their work.…”
— Gordon Springate, Wiltonsupports
“I strongly oppose this bill. Inspectors of elections have no business having access to my voting record. This invasion of privacy is exactly what is done wrong about what’s happening in Washington DC. I’m an active voting constituent.”
— Brenda Davidson, Concordopposes
“Appointed party inspectors should not be allowed to "observe (view) documents handled by supervisors of the checklist" and the current law to fill a vacant Supervisor of the Checklist by the current Supervisors works ok.…”
— michael horne, Hooksettopposes
“Have been a supervisor for 17 years - we are non-partisan - party is not an issue. This is a ridiculous bill. And folks from the SOS observe the supervisors at each election to make sure we are following the law.…”
— Jeanne Ludt, Amherstopposes
“I appreciate the opportunity to offer a balanced perspective on HB 395. This bill, which empowers inspectors of the election to observe the duties performed by supervisors of the checklist, presents both promising opportunities and potential challenges.…”
— Blossom Dodge, Concordneutral

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· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate17–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law4:06:24–4:07:0541slocated in the stream transcript==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • Mar 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law24:02–27:323m 30slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; ==CONTINUED== Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 3 P. 8
  2. Feb 25, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/25/2025 02:30 pm LOB 306-308
  3. Mar 4, 2025House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 03/04/2025 01:00 pm LOB 306-308
  4. Mar 11, 2025House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 03/11/2025 09:00 am LOB 306-308
  5. Mar 11, 2025House: Inexpedient to Legislate 03/11/2025 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 17 P. 13
  6. Mar 26, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 20

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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