Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
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HB 693 · 2026 · House · Election Law Committee

Allowing hand counting of ballots

AI-generated

relative to ballot counting procedures and permitting the hand counting of ballots.

Allows a voter to request that their ballot be counted by hand rather than by an electronic ballot counting device and permits selectmen and town clerks to hand count ballots cast in an election.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · January 7, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill provides that a voter may request to have their ballot counted by hand rather than by an electronic ballot counting device. The bill also provides that the selectmen and town clerk are permitted to hand count ballots cast in an election.

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, or the moderator pro tempore if the moderator is disqualified under RSA 658:24, shall oversee the counting of votes by other election officers, including the selectmen and the town clerk, and may discharge any other duties relating to the counting of votes.”
RSA 659:60
“Nothing in this section or any other provision of law shall preclude the selectmen or town clerk from, at their discretion, conducting a supplemental hand count to confirm election results for a specific race, or from conducting a hand count of ballots not processed through a voting machine or counted from a machine that failed during the voting period.”
RSA 659:60

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Susan PorcelliRPrime
  • Rep. JD BernardyRClerk· Science, Technology and Energy
  • Rep. Sayra DeVitoRClerk· Fish and Game and Marine Resources
  • Rep. Claudine BurnhamRClerk· Election Law

Also: Rep. Linda McGrathR, Rep. Kristine PerezR, Rep. Sandra PanekR, Rep. Sanjeev ManoharD

Public testimony

No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Sep 16, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendarCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate17–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Jan 7, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law4:32:03–4:33:461m 43slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law54:25–56:542m 29slocated in the stream transcriptExecutive Session; Retained in Committee
  • Sep 16, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law1:41:04–1:42:581m 54slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
  • Jan 7, 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 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 3 P. 23
  2. Feb 18, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/18/2025 02:30 pm LOB 306-308
  3. Mar 18, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/18/2025 10:00 am LOB 306-308
  4. Mar 18, 2025HouseRetained in Committee
  5. Sep 16, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 09/16/2025 10:15 am GP 158
  6. Sep 16, 2025House: Inexpedient to Legislate 09/16/2025 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 51 P. 9
  7. Jan 7, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 50

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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