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HB 474 · 2025 · House · Election Law Committee

Second witness for write-in vote counts

AI-generated

requiring a second witness at the counting of write-in votes.

Requires a second sworn election official to witness the counting of write-in votes when a moderator uses a ballot counting device's printed or digital images instead of examining each ballot.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · June 6, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill requires a second witness who is another sworn-in election official if a moderator uses a ballot counting device's printed or digitally displayed images to count write-in votes in place of examining each ballot to obtain the name of the person who received a write-in vote.

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

“In a town or city that uses a ballot counting device approved by the ballot law commission pursuant to RSA 656:40 and which prints or digitally displays an image of all write-in votes as part of the device's report of votes cast, a moderator may use the printed or digitally displayed images to count write-in votes in place of examining each ballot to obtain the name of the person who received a write-in vote.”
Section 65:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Claudine BurnhamRPrimeClerk· Election Law
  • Rep. Robert WherryRChair· Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy

Also: Rep. Clayton WoodR, Rep. Glenn BaileyR

Public testimony

13 signed in online · 6 wrote testimony

54% support46% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This makes perfect sense! Thank you for finding the oversight and making this correction.”
— Carol Petrusewicz, Rochestersupports
“While I think it's pathetic that we can't trust each other, this would solve problems of mistrust so I support it.”
— Heather Fritchy, DERRYsupports
“Please approve this bill, it is in the NH Constitution. Thank you and God bless, Deb Roux”
— Deb Roux, Manchestersupports
“As a long time moderator, I oppose this bill because it is unnecessary and vague. We already allow observers. Are the witnesses allowed to interfere or disrupt the proceedings? In addition, local elections are non-partisan.…”
— Paul Punturieri, Moultonboroughopposes
“A voter has the legal right to request a recount of votes, therefore it is not necessary to have this bill. I oppose this bill.”
— Aimee Lee, Plymouthopposes

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 4, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0216h10–7
    Overall
    59% yea
  • Mar 20, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-0216hadopted
  • Mar 20, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0216hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 1, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass4–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 1, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 22, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 28, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law3:31:59–3:39:017m 2slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law5:07:24–5:13:095m 45slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0216h — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floor4:02:45–4:04:281m 43slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0216h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-0216h — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 15, 2025Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs1:03:55–1:05:321m 37slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • May 22, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled 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. 12
  2. Jan 28, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/28/2025 01:30 pm LOB 306-308
  3. Feb 4, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/04/2025 10:10 am LOB 306-308
  4. Feb 4, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0216h 02/04/2025 (Vote 10-7; RC)
  5. Feb 6, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 20, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0216h: AA VV 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 44
  7. Mar 20, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0216h: MA VV 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 44
  8. Mar 20, 2025SenIntroduced 03/20/2025 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 9
  9. Apr 15, 2025SenHearing: 04/15/2025, Room 103, LOB, 10:00 am; SC 17
  10. May 1, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 05/01/2025; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 19
  11. May 1, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
  12. May 22, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/22/2025); SJ 15
  13. May 22, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 51
  14. Jun 2, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 06/02/2025; Chapter 65; eff.08/01/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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