HB 714 · 2025 · House · Election Law Committee
Single combined primary ballot
AI-generatedcreating a single primary ballot.
Replaces separate party primary ballots with a single combined primary ballot for state and congressional offices, letting any registered voter select among all candidates regardless of party.AI-generated
Status
Died on the table in the House · March 13, 2025- ✓Introduced
- ✕House
- Senate
- Governor
- Law
Analysis
This bill creates a single party ballot for use in state and congressional primaries.
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
“All candidates for an office shall be listed on a single primary ballot and all registered voters may vote for any candidate.”
“The secretary of state shall furnish 10 sample state primary election ballots [of each political party printed on tinted paper] to each town or ward clerk and, upon request, a reasonable number of such sample ballots to each person whose name appears upon the ballot as a candidate.”
“A person desiring to vote at a [state or] presidential primary election shall, at the time of announcing the person's name, also announce the name of the party to which the person belongs or whether the person is registered as an undeclared voter.”
“Votes cast in a state or congressional primary election shall be counted such that the number of candidates advancing to the general election shall be twice the number who will be elected in that election.”
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
- Rep. Jim MaggioreDDeputy Ranking Member· Municipal and County Government
Public testimony
234 signed in online · 58 wrote testimony
76% support24% oppose0% neutral
ForGeneral appeal of more choice, simplicity, and fairness
AgainstPrefers the current semi-open primary system / sees no need for change
AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.
Read the argumentsIn their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted
“I urge you to SUPPORT this bill. This is a good move for New Hampshire which has a wide range of voters - some that stick to party lines, but also many independent voters and those who do not identify with any particular party.…”
“I support giving voters the freedom to select any candidate regardless of party affiliation.”
“Creating a single primary ballot is efficient for such elections and just makes good sense. I’ve not heard a good reason why not to do so. Thank you.”
“I am absolutely against mixing the primaries. As a Republican, I absolutely do NOT want individuals who don't intend to vote Republican in the General election to have any part in the Republican Primary with the intent of interfering or weakening the selection of candidate.…”
“Stop trying to ruin our country. We use words so we don’t have to use guns.”
“Primaries are the method for party members to ensure party representatives are acting in the best interest of their constituents. Open primaries allow the non-party members to manipulate party representatives. This is a hard NO!…”
Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.
Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026
Votes
yeanay- Mar 4, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate11–7Overall61% yea
- Mar 13, 2025HouseVoice voteLay HB 714 on Table (Rep. Berry)adopted
Hearings and debates
- Feb 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law3:50:45–3:58:277m 42slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
- Mar 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law3:20:27–3:21:0538slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Executive Session
- Mar 13, 2025Floor debateHouse floor5:04:28–5:05:521m 24slocated in the stream transcriptLay HB 714 on Table (Rep. Berry) — adopted, voice vote
- Dec 17, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamDied on Table, Session ended
Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.
Legislative history
- Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 3 P. 24
- Feb 18, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/18/2025 01:00 pm LOB 306-308
- Mar 4, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/04/2025 01:00 pm LOB 306-308
- Mar 4, 2025HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 03/04/2025 (Vote 11-7; RC)
- Mar 5, 2025HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
- Mar 13, 2025HouseLay HB 714 on Table (Rep. Berry): MA VV 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 72
- Dec 17, 2025HouseDied on Table, Session ended 12/17/2025 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.