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HB 1306 · 2026 · House · Election Law Committee

New absentee ballot counting process

AI-generated

relative to the counting of absentee ballots.

Creates an absentee ballot certificate and requires clerks to perform and record certain counts of absentee ballots on the certificate.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 16, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill creates the absentee ballot certificate and requires certain counts of absentee ballots to be performed by the clerk and recorded on the absentee ballot certificate.

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 prepare and distribute to each town or ward clerk 2 copies of the absentee ballot certificate.”
RSA 657:23-a
“The secretary of state shall prepare and distribute to each town or ward clerk 3 copies of the pre-election certificate.”
RSA 658:32
“When the absentee ballots are counted, the clerk shall certify on the certificate the total number of absentee ballots received, as well as all counts required under paragraph II.”
RSA 657:23-a
“One copy shall be retained by the clerk for his or her records; and one copy shall be forwarded by the clerk to the secretary of state within 72 hours of the close of elections.”
RSA 657:23-a

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Claudine BurnhamRPrimeClerk· Election Law
  • Rep. Robert WherryRChair· Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy
  • Sen. James GrayRChair· Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Also: Rep. Clayton WoodR, Rep. Susan DeRoyR

Public testimony

28 signed in online · 5 wrote testimony

64% support36% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I have been looking to see this bill pass for the last few years. I have talked with Town Clerks, Moderators, the SOS and they all think that they are reconciling the Absentee Ballots, when they are not. No one seems to care about the UNUSED Absentee Ballots. How can this be?…”
— Deb Roux, Manchestersupports
“Live free or die is about fair elections. We need to be a model for the country on this fundamental right.”
— Bonita Gorbaty, Thorntonsupports
“This bill makes good sense and benefits all voters by preventing the potential misuse of unused and uncounted ballots..”
— Doug Wilson, Greenlandsupports

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 # 2026-0635h13–4
    Overall
    76% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2026-0635hadopted
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0635hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Apr 23, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1506s5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Apr 23, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-1506sadopted
  • Apr 23, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1506sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Apr 23, 2026HouseVoice voteHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1506s and Requests CofC (Rep. Berry)adopted
    Resulting text: Bill as adopted by both chambers
  • May 21, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Gray Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conferenceadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteConference committee report 2026-2110cadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026HouseDivisionConference committee report 2026-2110cAdopted205–144
    Overall
    59% yea
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2174eadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 27, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law4:14:27–4:16:081m 41slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law44:52–49:424m 50slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0635h — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floor6:38:14–6:40:081m 54slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0635h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-0635h — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 1, 2026Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs56:13–59:223m 9slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1506s; Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1506s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1506s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1506s and Requests CofC (Rep. Berry) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. Berry, Qualey, Burnham, Lane
  • May 21, 2026Floor debateSenate floor26:49–28:171m 28slocated in the stream transcriptSen. Gray Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference — adopted, voice vote; President Appoints: Senators Gray, Lang, Perkins Kwoka
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamConference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2110c; Conference Committee Report # 2026-2110c, Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2174e Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateHouse floor1:28:47–1:30:301m 43slocated in the stream transcriptConference Committee Report 2026-2110c: Adopted — division 205-144; Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2174e — 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. 14
  2. Jan 27, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/27/2026 02:00 pm GP 158
  3. Mar 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/03/2026 10:00 am GP 158
  4. Mar 3, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0635h 03/03/2026 (Vote 13-4; RC) HC 10 P. 42
  5. Mar 4, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 11, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0635h: AA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 157
  7. Mar 11, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0635h: MA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 157
  8. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 7
  9. Apr 1, 2026SenHearing: 04/01/2026, Room 103, SH, 01:45 pm; SC 12
  10. Apr 23, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1506s, 04/23/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 15
  11. Apr 23, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1506s, AA, VV; 04/23/2026; SJ 10
  12. Apr 23, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1506s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/23/2026; SJ 10
  13. Apr 23, 2026HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1506s and Requests CofC (Rep. Berry): MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 84
  14. Apr 23, 2026HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Berry, Qualey, Burnham, Lane 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 84
  15. May 21, 2026SenSen. Gray Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; 05/21/2026; SJ 13
  16. May 21, 2026SenPresident Appoints: Senators Gray, Lang, Perkins Kwoka; 05/21/2026; SJ 13
  17. May 27, 2026HouseConference Committee Meeting: 05/27/2026 10:20 am GP 228
  18. May 28, 2026HouseConference Committee Meeting: 05/28/2026 10:00 am GP 228
  19. May 28, 2026HouseConferee Change: Rep. See Replaces Rep. Qualey 05/28/2026 HJ 14 P. 36
  20. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2110c; 06/04/2026
  21. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report # 2026-2110c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
  22. Jun 4, 2026HouseConference Committee Report 2026-2110c: Adopted, DV 205-144 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  23. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2174e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  24. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2174e: AA VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  25. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 15
  26. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026
  27. Jul 10, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/10/2026; Chapter 299; eff. 9/8/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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