Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
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HB 220 · 2025 · House · Election Law Committee

Closing party primary elections

AI-generated

closing the presidential or state primary of political parties.

Closes state and presidential primary elections to voters not registered with a party unless the party adopts rules allowing undeclared voters to participate, and creates liability for grossly negligent violations by party officials or the secretary of state.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 closes the political primaries to voters that have not declared a party unless the party specifically adopts rules to allow such voters to cast a vote. This bill also creates a penalty for the party chairperson and secretary of state if such persons are grossly negligent.

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

“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].”
RSA 659:14
“A person may also vote the ballot of such a party in the presidential primary election only if the presidential primary election precedes the state primary election to be held in that same year.”
RSA 659:14
“If the rules of a party permit a person who is registered as an undeclared voter to vote in the party's primary, any person desiring to vote in that party's primary shall also announce the name of that party at the time of announcing the person's name.”
RSA 659:14
“However, if the rules of the party have not been adopted to permit a person who is registered as an undeclared voter to vote in the party's primary, then such person shall not vote in the primary election.”
RSA 659:14

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. John SellersRPrime
  • Rep. John PotucekRVice Chair· Commerce and Consumer Affairs
  • Rep. Michael MoffettRChair· State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

Also: Rep. Sandra PanekR, Rep. Paul TerryR, Rep. Jose CambrilsR, Rep. Mark PearsonR

Public testimony

378 signed in online · 100 wrote testimony

3% support97% oppose0% neutral

ForPrimaries should reflect the will of party members only

AgainstDisenfranchises undeclared/independent voters

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Thank you, this bill is clear. Accountability for the Political Party’s adopted rules is a must! This is an example of a Republic’s check and balance for those who choose to ignore their duty.…”
— Carol Petrusewicz, Rochestersupports
“I strongly support this Bill. Currently, political parties are controlled by the State here. Let's get the State of NH out of policing the political parties and pass this Bill.”
— Gordon Springate, Wiltonsupports
“It is objectively bad to prevent the state's largest group of legally registered voters from taking part in primary elections that their taxes fund, and I'd think that most residents, regardless of political affiliation, would also feel this way.…”
— Dan Watkins, Derry · Our Householdopposes
“The ability to be listed as an independent voter and still cast your choice for one major party or the other is a significant benefit in the NH voting system, much respected by the rest of the country.…”
— Faith Eherts, Nashuaopposes
“One of the things that makes our state great is our high proportion of Independent voters. Being registered as an Independent allows me to put my conscience above my party and to vote for the candidate that most closely aligns to my perspectives and values.…”
— Amy Gentile, Hollisopposes

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

Hearings and debates

  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law4:06:45–4:09:272m 42slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; ==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • Mar 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Election LawWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full stream==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. 11
  2. Feb 25, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/25/2025 03:30 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 18, 2025House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 03/18/2025 10:00 am LOB 306-308
  6. Mar 4, 2025House: Inexpedient to Legislate 03/04/2025 (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.