HB130: relative to the arrangement of candidates on primary election ballots

HB 130-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2025 SESSION

25-0208

08/02

HOUSE BILL 130-FN

AN ACT relative to the arrangement of candidates on primary election ballots

SPONSORS: Rep. Flanagan, Hills. 45

COMMITTEE: Election Law

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ANALYSIS

This bill requires that whenever there are 2 or more candidates for nomination to the same office, that the names of such candidates shall be alternated on the ballot in such a way that they appear at the top of the ballot nearly an equal number of times.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

25-0208

08/02

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

AN ACT relative to the arrangement of candidates on primary election ballots

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Order of Names. Amend RSA 656:24 to read as follows:

656:24 Order of Names. [With the exception of the office of state representative, whenever] Whenever there are 2 or more candidates for nomination to the same office, the names of such candidates shall be alternated on the state primary election ballots used so that each name shall appear thereon as nearly as may be an equal number of times at the top, at the bottom, and in each intermediate place, if any, of the list in which it belongs. [Names of candidates for nomination to the office of state representative shall be arranged in the alphabetical order of their surnames according to the alphabetization procedure established in RSA 656:5-a.]

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage. 

LBA

25-0208

12/27/24

HB 130-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to the arrangement of candidates on primary election ballots

FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.









Estimated State Impact





FY 2025

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028





Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0





Revenue Fund(s)

None





Expenditures*

$0

Indeterminable

Increase

Indeterminable

Increase

Indeterminable

Increase





Funding Source(s)

General Fund





Appropriations*

$0

$0

$0

$0





Funding Source(s)

None





*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill




METHODOLOGY:

This bill requires that whenever there are two or more candidates for nomination to the same office, that the names of such candidates shall be alternated on the ballot in such a way that they appear at the top of the ballot nearly an equal number of times.

The Department of State indicates that this bill would necessitate significant changes to the ballot design, printing, distribution, testing, and training processes for local election officials. Furthermore, the ballot design system will require software upgrades. If the current system cannot accommodate the necessary changes, a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a new system would be needed, potentially increasing expenditures by an undetermined amount. Additionally, if a town or ward receiving these ballots utilizes an electronic ballot counting device, each device would need to be programmed to accept each ballot design. Each accessible voting system would also require programming to print each ballot design. 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of State