Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 464 · 2025 · House · Election Law Committee

Election ballot counting and voter rules

AI-generated

(New Title) prohibiting certain candidates for political office from participating in counting ballots.

Prohibits certain political candidates from participating in ballot counting, permits use of personal information collected by other state agencies to determine voter eligibility, and requires reporting of low-value campaign donations.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · August 11, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Prohibits certain candidates for political office from participating in counting ballots. II. Enables the use of certain personal information collected by other state agencies to be used to determine voter eligibility. III. Requires the reporting of low value campaign donations.

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

“At or prior to the opening of the polls in each town or ward, the seal of the packages shall be publicly broken by the town or ward clerk; and the ballots shall be given to the ballot clerks and the ballots shall be examined and counted by the election officers in the presence of the clerk, the moderator, and at least one other legal voter.”
RSA 658:31
“The office shall annually provide to the clerk of court a master jury list for each county or judicial district thereof.”
RSA 500-A:2
“If the ballots are counted prior to the opening of the polls, the clerk shall post, in an appropriate place and prior to election day, notice of the time and place of the counting.”
RSA 658:31
“With the exception of candidates standing for the office of moderator, assistant moderator, clerk, selectperson, inspector of election, and supervisor of the checklist, no person who appears on the ballot shall count ballots prior to the election. 277:2 Voter Database;”
RSA 658:31

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Erica de VriesDPrime
  • Rep. Heath HowardDDeputy Ranking Member· Executive Departments and Administration

Public testimony

38 signed in online · 8 wrote testimony

66% support34% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This support for this bill should be obvious to anyone who believes that potential conflicts of interest are always detrimental to fairness.”
— Graham Johnson, Sanborntonsupports
“Thank you for the opportunity to speak in support of HB464, which prohibits candidates appearing on the ballot from participating in the counting of ballots before the election.…”
— Ashley Hartson, Bowsupports
“Why in the world should a candidate be allowed to count ballots??”
— Stephen Tyler, Portsmouthsupports
“There often aren't enough people available to help with counting ballots on election day mornings before the polls open, and I see no valid reason to disallow candidates from helping with this necessary & burdensome task to count unmarked ballots.”
— Cindy Kudlik, Graftonopposes
“There is NO harm done by people on the ballot counting blank ballots before an election. Anyone should be able to assist the Moderator in the pre-counts of elections.…”
— Carol Petrusewicz, Rochesteropposes
“In our small town, it is nearly impossible to get community members or candidates to witness the counting--and testing--of ballots prior to an election. Excluding the Moderator and Town Clerk from this process would be a further handicap.…”
— Jim Miller, Canterburyopposes

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

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law1:46:23–1:49:493m 26slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law5:10:46–5:15:304m 44slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0196h (NT); Executive Session
  • Mar 6, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0196h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-0196h — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 15, 2025Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs57:39–59:081m 29slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 22, 2025Floor debateSenate floor4:23:12–4:31:107m 58slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2184s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-2184s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-2184s — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 5, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSen. Gray Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference — adopted, voice vote; President Appoints: Senators Gray, Lang, Perkins Kwoka; (In Recess
  • Jun 5, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-2184s and Requests CofC (Rep. Kofalt) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. Berry, Qualey, Burnham, Lane
  • Jun 26, 2025Floor debateSenate floor1:50:56–1:51:591m 3slocated in the stream transcriptConference Committee Report Filed, # 2025-2851c; Conference Committee Report # 2025-2851c, Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2918e Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floor3:49:29–3:50:2051slocated in the stream transcriptConference Committee Report 2025-2851c: Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2918e — adopted, voice vote; Enrolled (in recess)

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. 11
  2. Feb 4, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/04/2025 11:40 am LOB 306-308
  3. Feb 11, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/11/2025 10:10 am LOB 306-308
  4. Feb 11, 2025HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0196h (NT) 02/11/2025 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 14 P. 7
  5. Mar 6, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0196h: AA VV 03/06/2025 HJ 7 P. 8
  6. Mar 6, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0196h: MA VV 03/06/2025 HJ 7 P. 8
  7. Mar 6, 2025SenIntroduced 03/06/2025 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 7
  8. Apr 15, 2025SenHearing: 04/15/2025, Room 103, LOB, 09:45 am; SC 17
  9. May 6, 2025SenHearing: 05/06/2025, Room 103, LOB, 09:15 am, on proposed amendment # 2025-1807s; SC 20
  10. May 22, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2184s, 05/22/2025; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 22
  11. May 22, 2025SenHB 464 was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 05/22/2025; SJ 14
  12. May 22, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-2184s, AA, VV; 05/22/2025; SJ 14
  13. May 22, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-2184s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/22/2025; SJ 14
  14. Jun 5, 2025HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-2184s and Requests CofC (Rep. Kofalt): MA VV 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 171
  15. Jun 5, 2025HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Berry, Qualey, Burnham, Lane 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 171
  16. Jun 5, 2025SenSen. Gray Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  17. Jun 5, 2025SenPresident Appoints: Senators Gray, Lang, Perkins Kwoka; (In Recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  18. Jun 16, 2025HouseConference Committee Meeting: 06/16/2025 10:40 am LOB 306-308
  19. Jun 16, 2025HouseConferee Change: Rep. Wood Replaces Rep. Lane 06/16/2025 HJ 17 P. 24
  20. Jun 26, 2025SenConference Committee Report Filed, # 2025-2851c; 06/26/2025
  21. Jun 26, 2025SenConference Committee Report # 2025-2851c, Adopted, VV; 06/26/2025; SJ 17
  22. Jun 26, 2025HouseConference Committee Report 2025-2851c: Adopted, VV 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 22
  23. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2918e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  24. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2918e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 63
  25. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  26. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 64
  27. Aug 1, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 08/01/2025; Chapter 277; eff. I. Sec 9 & 10 eff 12/31/2025 II. RSA 654:12 VI as ins. by sec 5 eff 2/01/2026 III. Rem eff 09/30/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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