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HB 711 · 2025 · House · Election Law Committee

Voting machine contractor registration

AI-generated

relative to voting machine contractors.

Requires contractors who repair electronic ballot counting devices to register with the secretary of state and attorney general, and requires municipal officials to record contractor information before repairs.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 requires contractors who repair electronic ballot counting devices to register with the secretary of state and the attorney general. It also requires designated municipal officials to record a contractor's information prior to any repairs.

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 contractor who repairs an electronic ballot counting device shall, prior to making any repair, register with the secretary of state and the attorney general in a manner prescribed by each, and obtain a registration number.”
RSA 656:42-a
“In order to obtain a registration number, the contractor shall submit proof to the secretary of state and the attorney general that they are bonded and insured.”
RSA 656:42-a
“Prior to accessing the device, a contractor shall present to a designated municipal official a photographic identification card bearing their full name, their company's name, and their registration number.”
RSA 656:42-a
“The contractor shall visibly display the identification at all times while in the vicinity of the device.”
RSA 656:42-a

Official record

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. JD BernardyRPrimeClerk· Science, Technology and Energy

Public testimony

41 signed in online · 9 wrote testimony

80% support20% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Common sense. Only people registered with the sec of state should be allowed to touch voting related machines”
— Michael LeNeave, Amherstsupports
“I strongly his bill which requires contractors who repair electronic ballot counting devices to register with the secretary of state and the attorney general. It also requires designated municipal officials to record a contractor's information prior to any repairs.”
— Charles Hughes, Exetersupports
“I am concerned about the lack of accountability for vendors and their employees programming and servicing electronic devices used in our elections. Some other states (maybe most?) are doing much better than NH.”
— Deboarh Sumner, Jaffreysupports

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 11, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate17–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law3:16–8:355m 19slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law9:37–12:042m 27slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; 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 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 3 P. 24
  2. Feb 18, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/18/2025 10:00 am LOB 306-308
  3. Mar 11, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/11/2025 09:00 am LOB 306-308
  4. Mar 11, 2025House: Inexpedient to Legislate 03/11/2025 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 17 P. 15
  5. Mar 26, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 22

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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