Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
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HB 600 · 2025 · House · Election Law Committee

Ranked-choice voting for towns

AI-generated

enabling ranked-choice voting for municipal elections.

Establishes procedures for ranked-choice voting, including ballot design, counting methods, and voter instructions, that municipalities may choose to adopt for their elections.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 enables procedures for ranked choice voting and allows municipalities to adopt such procedures.

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

“Ranked-Choice Voting. ?"Ranked choice voting" means the method of casting and counting votes in which voters rank candidates in order of choice and counting proceeds in rounds pursuant to RSA 659:105, III to determine which candidate has or which candidates have a plurality of votes for an election, where authorized by law.”
RSA 652:16-i
“The town clerk shall prepare the official ballots for the town and shall arrange the names of candidates upon said ballots in parallel columns.”
RSA 669:23
“The secretary of state shall provide on the top of the general election ballot the following voting instructions.”
RSA 659:17
“The moderator may order the assistant moderator in writing to process absentee ballots and to count the votes cast at the additional polling place in the presence of and with the assistance of the assistant town clerk and election officials in the manner prescribed by this chapter.”
RSA 659:59

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Ellen ReadDPrimeDeputy Ranking Member· Housing
  • Rep. Heath HowardDDeputy Ranking Member· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Rep. Seth KingRClerk· Environment and Agriculture
  • Rep. Russell MuirheadDDeputy Ranking Member· Election Law
  • Rep. Daniel VeilleuxDDeputy Ranking Member· Transportation
  • Rep. Laura TelerskiDDeputy Democratic Leader
  • Rep. Matthew WilhelmDDemocratic Caucus Chair

Also: Rep. Jared SullivanD, Rep. Eric TurerD

Public testimony

738 signed in online · 192 wrote testimony

96% support4% oppose0% neutral

ForGeneral enthusiasm for the bill's fairness and voter choice

AgainstGeneral opposition to ranked-choice voting

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I support and urge the NH House Election Law Committee to give this bill a careful, full and fair hearing.…”
— Barbara Pugh, Amherstsupports
“HB 600 is really about allowing citizens to determine how best to address what is needed to assist voters in local municipalities icipal elections. I have learned that this bill has bipartisan support. Ranked Choice Voting-- the nonpartisan way!”
— William Thomas, Manchestersupports
“My Australian daughter has the privilege of voting by ranked-choice. She loves being able to vote for her favorite candidate without worrying that that will mean her second choice can't win.…”
— Anne Huberman, Peterboroughsupports
“I am absolutely against the disease of ranked-choice voting. We've seen how it's caused serious issues in other states that have adopted it, such as Alaskan Republicans trying to recall or control the anti-Republican behavior of Senator Murkowski, but being unable to do so.…”
— Robert Kenney, Straffordopposes
“I write in opposition to HB 600, enabling ranked-choice voting (RCV) for municipal elections.…”
— Barbara Glassman, Nashuaopposes
“As a municipal employee for over 26 years I would offer that this bill will place an undue burden on the city and town clerks of the communities in the state.…”
— Phillip Warren, Meredithopposes

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 4, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseRoll callInexpedient to LegislateAdopted194–145How they voted
    Overall
    57% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    186–398% yea
    Democrats
    8–1425% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law3:55:27–3:59:554m 28slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floor1:09:05–1:16:387m 33slocated in the stream transcriptInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, roll call 194-145

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. 18
  2. Feb 25, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/25/2025 01:00 pm LOB 306-308
  3. Mar 4, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/04/2025 01:00 pm LOB 306-308
  4. Mar 4, 2025HouseMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 03/04/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 17 P. 30
  5. Mar 19, 2025HouseMinority Committee Report: Ought to Pass
  6. Mar 26, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA RC 194-145 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 56

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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