Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
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HB 1627 · 2026 · House · Election Law Committee

Single combined primary ballot

AI-generated

creating a single primary ballot.

Creates a single party ballot combining candidates from all parties for use in state and congressional primary elections.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 creates a single party ballot for use in state and congressional primaries.

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

“All candidates for an office shall be listed on a single primary ballot and all registered voters may vote for any candidate.”
RSA 656:23
“The secretary of state shall furnish 10 sample state primary election ballots [of each political party printed on tinted paper] to each town or ward clerk and, upon request, a reasonable number of such sample ballots to each person whose name appears upon the ballot as a candidate.”
RSA 656:28
“A person desiring to vote at a [state or] presidential primary election shall, at the time of announcing the person's name, also announce the name of the party to which the person belongs or whether the person is registered as an undeclared voter.”
RSA 659:14
“Votes cast in a state or congressional primary election shall be counted such that the number of candidates advancing to the general election shall be twice the number who will be elected in that election.”
RSA 659:69

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Matthew CokerRPrime

Public testimony

113 signed in online · 31 wrote testimony

85% support15% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Please support this bill so voters can vote for any candidate of any party”
— Elizabeth Goodhue, Peterboroughsupports
“Creating a singular ballot pertaining to HB1391 & local regulation. IMHO it would support stability and decrease the dysfunction of NH being a swing state, with regard to legislature & voting. Creating a single ballot would effect a positive change & simplified process”
— Derek Michael Avila, Nashuasupports
“Please do not make it hard for people to vote. There is no problem here that needs to be solved. Students who are attending college in NH should be able to vote in NH, if they are residents on campus.…”
— Deborah McCarter, Goffstownsupports
“This seems very confusing to have a different type of primary election ballot for some races but not all.”
— Cindy Kudlik, Graftonopposes
“Why HB 1627 Is Concerning Eliminates party control over nominations Parties lose the ability to determine who participates in choosing their candidates, undermining accountability and internal democracy.…”
— BONNIE BRUNO, HOLLISopposes
“I am respectfully requesting that you oppose bill HB1627, which would implement a top-two primary system, for the following reasons: - Cross-over coordination can sideline a party’s base choice.…”
— Teresa Brooks, Manchesteropposes

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· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate14–2
    Overall
    88% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 27, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law16:41–18:502m 9slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law1:49:44–1:53:123m 28slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; 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. 28
  2. Jan 27, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/27/2026 10:00 am GP 158
  3. Feb 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/03/2026 10:10 am GP 158
  4. Feb 3, 2026HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 02/03/2026 (Vote 14-2; RC) HC 7 P. 31
  5. Feb 11, 2026HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
  6. Feb 19, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 70

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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