Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
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HB 1429 · 2026 · House · Election Law Committee

Pausing hand-counted ballot tallies

AI-generated

relative to the of hand-counting ballots at large polling places.

Enables ballot counting to be paused under certain circumstances at large polling places.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · February 19, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill enables ballot counting to be paused in certain circumstances.

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 moderator of any polling place where the moderator believes that the ballot counting will extend beyond 12:00 a.m. may pause the ballot counting no earlier than 11:00 p.m.”
Section 1
“Vote counting shall resume the next morning at a time chosen by the moderator, at the same location, and shall continue until complete.”
Section 1
“All work-in-process documents shall be preserved, identified as to what they are, and kept on site.”
Section 1
“The moderator, collaborating with the select board or school board, shall ensure the ballots and associated materials are securely stored overnight, with no less than 2 election officials or one official and one police officer present the entire time.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Paul DargieDPrime
  • Rep. Peter PetrignoDRanking Member· Children and Family Law

Public testimony

8 signed in online · 3 wrote testimony

63% support38% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Hand-counting can increase transparency and public confidence, particularly in high-turnout areas, but must be practical and secure.”
— Hannah Meiselman, Machestersupports
“I sympathize with sponsors, but NO WAY will we leave ballots unattended over night and risk having same poll workers not show up OR having different poll workers show up instead. Chain of Attended Custody is too important for Trust in Election Integrity.”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaopposes

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 3, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 27, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law4:35:38–4:54:3218m 54slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law1:41:00–1:44:063m 6slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
  • Feb 19, 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. 20
  2. Jan 27, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/27/2026 02:20 pm GP 158
  3. Feb 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/03/2026 10:10 am GP 158
  4. Feb 3, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/03/2026 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 7 P. 10
  5. Feb 19, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 13

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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