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HB 1541 · 2026 · House · Election Law Committee

Secure ballot storage containers

AI-generated

requiring the secretary of state to provide all voting precincts with secure containers for storing ballots.

Requires the secretary of state to provide all voting precincts with secure containers for storing ballots.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 20, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill requires the secretary of state to provide all voting precincts with secure containers for storing ballots.

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 secretary of state shall, before any state and federal election, prepare and distribute to each town and ward clerk secure, durable, reusable, transportable, stackable and marked containers to be used for preserving ballots with locks, tamper-evident [and] sealers [to seal each such container] and registration or serial numbers for each marked container.”
RSA 659:97
“The secretary of state shall prepare special durable and easily transportable containers capable of being secured and with tamper-evident sealers to be used for preserving any special and separate ballots for questions to voters.”
RSA 659:97
“The secretary of state shall prescribe the size and form of such containers, locks and tamper-evident sealers and shall prescribe the form of any endorsement blank printed upon the sealers, provided that the blank is in substance consistent with the provisions of RSA 659:95.”
RSA 659:97
“The secretary of state shall prepare an annual progress report and will include the number of secure containers replaced, locations, and planned container replacement for the following year. 327:2 Effective Date.”
RSA 659:97

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Susan PorcelliRPrime
  • Rep. JD BernardyRClerk· Science, Technology and Energy
  • Rep. Claudine BurnhamRClerk· Election Law
  • Rep. Katelyn KuttabRClerk· Judiciary
  • Rep. Jodi NelsonRClerk· Children and Family Law
  • Rep. Robert WherryRChair· Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRChair, Majority Policy Conference

Also: Rep. Alvin SeeR, Rep. Clayton WoodR, Rep. Jeffrey TenczarR, Rep. Linda McGrathR, Sen. Tim McGoughR

Public testimony

32 signed in online · 15 wrote testimony

91% support6% oppose3% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“YES. I like the idea of standardized containers and locking. Do you have locks and containers strong enough to resist a Fulton County Georgia Progressive Democrat?”
— tom luther, claremontsupports
“Secure ballot storage is fundamental to election integrity and voter confidence.”
— Hannah Meiselman, Manchestersupports
“I am respectfully requesting that you support bill HB1541, for the following reasons: - It strengthens election integrity and chain of custody by ensuring all ballots are stored and transported in secure, tamper-evident containers statewide.…”
— Teresa Brooks, Manchestersupports
“The SOS defines how we seal the boxes they provide with the already cast ballots there have been no problems with storing of the boxes and I don't know of any report that ballots after having been cast have been tampered with.…”
— Joan Dargie, Milfordopposes
“Please require and provide a safe storage space in all precincts for ballots.”
— Sherry Yeaton, Epsomneutral

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: Ought to Pass17–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 5, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Apr 9, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1313s5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Apr 9, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-1313sadopted
  • Apr 9, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1313sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Apr 23, 2026HouseVoice voteHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1313s and Requests CofC (Rep. Berry)adopted
    Resulting text: Bill as adopted by both chambers
  • May 7, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Gray Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conferenceadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteConference committee report 2026-2091cadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2177eadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Lawfrom 6:51:04located in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 5, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 31, 2026Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs6:35–8:221m 47slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 9, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1313s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1313s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1313s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1313s and Requests CofC (Rep. Berry) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. Berry, Qualey, Lane, Muirhead
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSen. Gray Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference — adopted, voice vote; President Appoints: Senators Gray, Lang, Perkins Kwoka; (In Recess
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamConference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2091c; Conference Committee Report # 2026-2091c, Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2177e Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamConference Committee Report 2026-2091c: Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2177e — adopted, voice vote; Enrolled (in recess)

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. 25
  2. Feb 3, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/03/2026 03:20 pm GP 158
  3. Feb 10, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/10/2026 11:00 am GP 158
  4. Feb 10, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass 02/10/2026 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 9 P. 14
  5. Mar 5, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 15
  6. Mar 5, 2026SenIntroduced 03/05/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 6
  7. Mar 31, 2026SenHearing: 03/31/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 09:00 am; SC 12
  8. Apr 9, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1313s, 04/09/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 13
  9. Apr 9, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1313s, AA, VV; 04/09/2026; SJ 8
  10. Apr 9, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1313s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/09/2026; SJ 8
  11. Apr 23, 2026HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1313s and Requests CofC (Rep. Berry): MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 84
  12. Apr 23, 2026HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Berry, Qualey, Lane, Muirhead 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 84
  13. May 7, 2026SenSen. Gray Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 05/07/2026); SJ 12
  14. May 7, 2026SenPresident Appoints: Senators Gray, Lang, Perkins Kwoka; (In Recess 05/07/2026); SJ 12
  15. May 27, 2026HouseConference Committee Meeting: 05/27/2026 10:40 am GP 228
  16. May 27, 2026HouseConferee Change: Rep. Newsom Replaces Rep. Muirhead 05/27/2026 HJ 14 P. 35
  17. May 28, 2026HouseConference Committee Meeting: 05/28/2026 10:00 am GP 228
  18. May 28, 2026HouseConference Committee Meeting: 05/28/2026 10:00 am GP 228
  19. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2091c; 06/04/2026
  20. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report # 2026-2091c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
  21. Jun 4, 2026HouseConference Committee Report 2026-2091c: Adopted, VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  22. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2177e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  23. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2177e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  24. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  25. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 15
  26. Jul 15, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/15/2026; Chapter 327; eff. 01/01/2027

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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