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HB 1272 · 2026 · House · Election Law Committee

Party labels on local ballots

AI-generated

(New Title) providing an option for each candidate's party affiliations to be printed on the town or school district ballot.

Allows towns and school districts to vote to print each candidate's party affiliation after their name on official ballots, with a process to adopt or later rescind the practice and an option for candidates to opt out.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · April 10, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill provides an option for each candidate's party affiliation to be printed on the town or school district ballot.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the House. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“Any town that has adopted an official ballot system under RSA 669:12 or RSA 669:13 may vote to include on the official ballot each candidate’s party affiliation after the candidate’s name, unless waived by the candidate, under an article in the warrant for any town meeting.”
RSA 669:13-a
“The town clerk shall cause to be printed on the official ballot the question, "Shall the official ballot contain the party affiliation of each candidate, appearing after each candidate’s name, pursuant to RSA 669:13-a, I?”, which question shall be followed by boxes in which the voter may indicate "Yes" or "No".”
RSA 669:13-a
“If the majority of the qualified voters present and voting at such meeting shall answer said question in the affirmative, the party affiliation of candidates shall be included on future official ballots, until rescinded or until the unofficial ballot system is adopted.”
RSA 669:13-a
“The party affiliation shall be the candidate’s party affiliation listed on the town’s voter checklist at the time the candidate declares candidacy and shall be denoted on the ballot after the candidate’s name using the first 3 letters of the name of the party in parentheses or “(UND)” if candidate has no declared party.”
RSA 669:13-a

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Robert WherryRPrimeChair· Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy
  • Rep. Diane PauerRChair· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. Tom MannionRAssistant Majority Whip

Also: Rep. Mary FordR, Rep. Linda McGrathR, Rep. Mary MurphyR, Rep. Richard BrownR, Rep. John SellersR

Public testimony

298 signed in online · 59 wrote testimony

2% support98% oppose0% neutral

AgainstLocal and school board elections should stay nonpartisan

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“NHSBA is opposed to this bill. Given the number of hearings and executive sessions scheduled at this time, we will be submitting further testimony after the hearing, as appropriate. Thank you.”
— Rebecca Wilson, Concord · New Hampshire School Boards Associationopposes
“I oppose HB 1272 because I believe that school district elections should remain nonpartisan as they are now.”
— Linda Bundy, Antrimopposes
“I am a first grade teacher, and my classroom has registered temperatures of over 100 degrees while I am with students. This is no way for children to learn, and mandating specific calendar days will only worsen this matter.”
— Katie Bass, GIlmanton Iron Worksopposes

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
  • Mar 3, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0947h9–7
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2026-0947hadopted
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseDivisionOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0947hAdopted171–156
    Overall
    52% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Apr 16, 2026SenateCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate4–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Apr 16, 2026SenateVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 17, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law1:22:08–1:23:151m 7slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law3:06–9:055m 59slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0947h — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floor6:20:18–6:24:574m 39slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0947h — adopted, division 171-156; Amendment # 2026-0947h — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 31, 2026Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs5:10:02–5:11:101m 8slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 16, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Inexpedient 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. 13
  2. Feb 17, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/17/2026 11:20 am GP 158
  3. Mar 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/03/2026 10:00 am GP 158
  4. Mar 3, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0947h 03/03/2026 (Vote 9-7; RC) HC 10 P. 41
  5. Mar 4, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 11, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0947h: AA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 145
  7. Mar 11, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0947h: MA DV 171-156 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 146
  8. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 7
  9. Mar 31, 2026SenHearing: 03/31/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 01:30 pm; SC 12
  10. Apr 16, 2026Sen: Inexpedient to Legislate, 04/16/2026, Vote 4-0, CC; SC 14
  11. Apr 16, 2026SenInexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 04/16/2026; SJ 9

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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