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SB 43 · 2025 · Senate · Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee

Campaign clothing and e-poll books

AI-generated

(New Title) removing articles of clothing from the definition of electioneering and the use of electronic poll book devices.

Allows voters to wear certain articles of clothing supporting a candidate or measure while casting a ballot and permits the use of electronic poll book devices at town meetings, special meetings, and deliberative sessions.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 22, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill allows certain articles of clothing supporting a candidate or measure to be worn by a voter in the process of casting his or her vote. This bill also allows the use of electronic poll book devices in town meetings, special meetings, and deliberative sessions.

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

“The provisions of RSA 654:34, RSA 659:55, RSA 659:13, RSA 659:14, and RSA 659:23, as they relate to manual entries on a paper checklist, are hereby waived in order to accommodate an electronic poll book, provided the same information required of the voter is obtained and recorded by the electronic poll book, and can be retrieved and/or printed at any time including during an election.”
Section 217:2
“In addition, nonpublic data related to individual voter data shall remain confidential, and no voter data shall be released or retained by an electronic poll book vendor, including its agents, or any company or individual that provides software, hardware, or services to the vendor for any purpose.”
Section 217:2
“An electronic poll book vendor shall not have access to any voter data except as specifically necessary to setup, maintain, or train for an electronic poll book program authorized under RSA 652:27.”
Section 217:2
“Adequate back-up systems shall be in place as determined by the local election officials for local elections and the secretary of state for all other elections.”
Section 217:2

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Timothy LangRPrimeVice Chair· Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Public testimony

208 signed in online · 29 wrote testimony

5% support95% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This legislation would encourage electioneering using clothing, an increasingly common form of political expression. Voters are entitled to navigate the election process without influence from others.”
— Elizabeth Black, Concordsupports
“I approve of this bill as it supports my right to voice my opinion.”
— Katherine Richardson, Surrysupports
“Political clothing is electioneering and has NO place at the polls. Do not pass this bill.”
— Susanne Holstein, Bedfordopposes
“The practice of not allowing "electioneering" clothin inside a polling place os so important. It's campaigning! How can you not know that? WHat happened to reps with common sense? Vote NO”
— Ann Heffernon, Swanzeyopposes
“OPPOSE SB43 Leaving all political signs, including clothing at the door makes for a calm, non-partisan atmosphere inside where people are voting. Let's keep it that way!! Robin Helrich Hopkinton”
— Robin Helrich, Hopkintonopposes

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

  • Jan 14, 2025Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHearing
  • Feb 13, 2025Floor debateSenate floor1:28:52–1:37:008m 8slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0263s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0263s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-0263s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 22, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law2:00:30–2:07:427m 12slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • May 27, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law1:38:51–1:43:044m 13slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2475h (NT); Public Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2025-1651h; Executive Session
  • Jun 5, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2475h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-2475h (NT) — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 12, 2025Floor debateSenate floor16:50–17:4050slocated in the stream transcriptSen. Gray Moved to Concur with the House Amendment — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 26, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Adopted — voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 3
  2. Jan 14, 2025SenHearing: 01/14/2025, Room 103, LOB, 10:00 am; SC 5
  3. Feb 13, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0263s, 02/13/2025; Vote 3-2; CC; SC 9
  4. Feb 13, 2025SenSB 43 was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 02/13/2025; SJ 5
  5. Feb 13, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-0263s, AA, VV; 02/13/2025; SJ 5
  6. Feb 13, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0263s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 02/13/2025; SJ 5
  7. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 11 P. 109
  8. Apr 22, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/22/2025 11:40 am LOB 306-308
  9. Apr 29, 2025House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 04/29/2025 10:00 am LOB 306-308
  10. May 27, 2025HousePublic Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2025-1651h: 05/27/2025 10:00 am LOB 306-308
  11. May 27, 2025HousePublic Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2025-1651h: 05/27/2025 10:05 am LOB306-308
  12. May 27, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 05/27/2025 10:10 am LOB 306-308
  13. May 27, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2475h (NT) 05/27/2025 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 27 P. 10
  14. Jun 5, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-2475h (NT): AA VV 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 12
  15. Jun 5, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2475h: MA VV 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 13
  16. Jun 12, 2025SenSen. Gray Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 06/12/2025; SJ 16
  17. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 60
  18. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  19. Jul 15, 2025SenSigned by the Governor on 07/15/2025; Chapter 0217; Effective 09/13/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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