Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
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HB 160 · 2025 · House · Election Law Committee

Pre-election certificate content requirements

AI-generated

relative to the contents of the pre-election certificate.

Adds specific new information requirements to the contents of the pre-election certificate that candidates for office are required to file.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 adds to the contents of the pre-election certificate.

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

“The secretary of state shall prepare and distribute to each town or ward clerk 3 copies of the pre-election certificate.”
RSA 658:32
“When the ballots are counted, the moderator and clerk shall certify thereon the following:”
RSA 658:32
“One copy shall be retained by the moderator for his or her records; one copy shall be retained by the clerk for his or her records, and one copy shall be forwarded by the clerk to the secretary of state with the election returns pursuant to RSA 659:75.”
RSA 658:32

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Claudine BurnhamRPrimeClerk· Election Law
  • Rep. Ross BerryRChair· Election Law
  • Rep. Tom MannionRAssistant Majority Whip
  • Rep. Robert WherryRChair· Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy

Also: Rep. Aidan AnkarbergI, Rep. Sandra PanekR, Rep. John SellersR, Rep. Clayton WoodR

Public testimony

12 signed in online · 5 wrote testimony

42% support58% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This mistakenly eliminates reporting of "(c) The number of federal office only cast; and..." Please restore this report element. When explicitly subtracted from total number of ballots cast, result provides verification of maximum possible of state-wide ballots cast.”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuasupports
“This closes the gap of missing information. Thank you to the sponsors for your forethought!”
— Carol Petrusewicz, Rochestersupports
“We need to account for every ballot. AB need to be accounted for just like our general election ballots. This includes accounting for the remaining unused AB after the polls close. Please approve this bill! Got bless, Deb Roux”
— Deb Roux, Manchestersupports
“This law makes no sense and is not well written. It is not solving anything - it is making things more confusing and time consuming for our moderators.”
— Stan Diehl, Concordopposes

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 18, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate18–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 21, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law1:33:14–1:35:252m 11slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing; ==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • Mar 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law1:35:13–1:37:021m 49slocated in the stream transcript==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • Mar 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law23:06–25:302m 24slocated 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 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 2 P. 8
  2. Jan 21, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/21/2025 11:30 am LOB 306-308
  3. Jan 21, 2025House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 01/21/2025 11:45 am LOB 306-308
  4. Mar 11, 2025House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 03/11/2025 09:00 am LOB 306-308
  5. Mar 18, 2025House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 03/18/2025 10:00 am LOB 306-308
  6. Mar 18, 2025House: Inexpedient to Legislate 03/18/2025 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 17 P. 12
  7. Mar 26, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 18

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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