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HB 1326 · 2026 · House · Election Law Committee

Special election timing rules

AI-generated

relative to special elections.

Requires the governor to declare a special election to fill a vacant state representative seat in a city ward if the vacancy occurs between 56 and 77 days before a municipal primary.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires the governor to declare a special election to fill the office of state representative in a city ward or wards if the vacancy occurs between 56 and 77 days before a municipal primary.

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

“Within 21 days after proof of a vacancy or a request that a vacancy be filled, the governor, in the case of an executive council vacancy, or the governor and council, in the case of any other vacancy, shall declare that there shall be a special election which shall be held as provided in RSA 655:81 and 82 or as provided in RSA 661:8, III.”
Section 1
“Where a vacancy in the office of state representative in a district consisting of either a city ward or several city wards occurs between 56 and 77 days before a municipal primary, the governor shall declare the special election within 24 hours of receipt of a request from the governing body of such city.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Patrick LongDPrime

Public testimony

5 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

60% support40% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Stop scaring the public and making it harder to vote. Election fraud is a fraud, hardly ever happens except in the minds of those who lose…”
— Mary Tebo Davis, Straffordopposes
“The federal government has hijacked and impounded millions of dollars Granite State taxpayers have provided for programs and services., essentially waging financial war against states.…”
— Jean Lewandowski, Nashua, NHopposes

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
  • Feb 10, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate14–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 5, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law2:41:11–2:44:223m 11slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 5, 2026Floor 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 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Election Law HJ 1 P. 15
  2. Feb 3, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/03/2026 11:40 am GP 158
  3. Feb 10, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/10/2026 11:00 am GP 158
  4. Feb 10, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/10/2026 (Vote 14-0; CC) HC 9 P. 14
  5. Mar 5, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 15

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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