HB 498 · 2025 · House · Election Law Committee
Absentee ballot request timing
AI-generatedrelative to when a person may receive an absentee ballot.
Requires that absentee ballot applications be distributed no sooner than 45 days before an election.AI-generated
Status
Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 6, 2025- ✓Introduced
- ✕House
- Senate
- Governor
- Law
Analysis
This bill requires that absentee ballots applications be distributed no sooner than 45 days prior to an election.
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 retain for his own use so many application forms for absentee ballots as he may deem necessary and shall supply each town and city clerk in the state with so many of them as he may deem sufficient.”
“The secretary shall not send absentee ballot applications to city or town clerks prior to 45 days before an election.”
“The secretary of state shall keep a record of the date when and the manner in which the absentee ballot applications were sent to said clerks and of the number of absentee ballot applications so forwarded.”
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
Public testimony
88 signed in online · 18 wrote testimony
66% support33% oppose1% neutral
In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted
“I have investigated a local COOP school election performing a six town investigative sweep. I also have worked on Lou Garguilio's investigative town with a seven town sweep.…”
“Chain of custody with ballots are a concern. This will at least chip away at some of the concerns and risks of compromised ballots.”
“Absentee ballots should have the same reconciliation requirements as "same day" ballots, not achievable without additional control and traceability oversight.”
“I see no reason that absentee ballot requests should not be provided as soon as the candidates have been defined.…”
“I would like to express my opposition to the proposed bill that mandates absentee ballot applications be distributed no sooner than 45 days prior to an election.…”
“The right to a free and fair election is one of the most important rights we hold in this country”
Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.
Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026
Votes
yeanay- Feb 11, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate18–0Overall100% yea
- Mar 6, 2025HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted
Hearings and debates
- Feb 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law3:33:57–3:34:4649slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
- Feb 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law4:41:12–4:42:471m 35slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
- Mar 6, 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
- Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 3 P. 13
- Feb 4, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/04/2025 01:20 pm LOB 306-308
- Feb 11, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/11/2025 10:10 am LOB 306-308
- Feb 14, 2025House==CANCELLED== Subcommittee Work Session: 02/14/2025 09:30 am LOB 306-308
- Feb 11, 2025HouseCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/11/2025 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 14 P. 7
- Mar 6, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/06/2025 HJ 7 P. 8
Coverage
No reporting linked yet.
Documents (PDF)
Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.