HB158: (New Title) requiring the secretary of state to review absentee ballot data biennially, forward certain requests to the election law unit for review, and make a report to the general court.

HB 158 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

03/26/2026 1214s

2025 SESSION

25-0680

08/09

HOUSE BILL 158

AN ACT requiring the secretary of state to review absentee ballot data biennially, forward certain requests to the election law unit for review, and make a report to the general court.

SPONSORS: Rep. Hill, Merr. 2; Rep. Bernardy, Rock. 36; Rep. Sweeney, Rock. 25; Rep. Verville, Rock. 2; Rep. Berry, Hills. 44; Rep. S. Boyd, Merr. 10; Rep. T. Walsh, Merr. 10; Rep. Sheehan, Hills. 43; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. McConkey, Dist 3

COMMITTEE: Election Law

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill requires the secretary of state to review absentee ballot data biennially, forward certain requests to the election law unit for review, and make a report to the general court.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03/26/2026 1214s 25-0680

08/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

AN ACT requiring the secretary of state to review absentee ballot data biennially, forward certain requests to the election law unit for review, and make a report to the general court.

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

1 New Paragraph; Addresses Receiving Multiple Absentee Ballots. Amend RSA 657:15 by inserting after paragraph I the following new paragraph:

I-a. The secretary of state shall review absentee ballot data after each general election to identify absentee ballot requests that should be forwarded to the department of justice, election law unit for an investigative review. This review shall include requests by multiple voters that are sent to a common address. The secretary shall provide the committees of jurisdiction a report of the number and category of requests forwarded for investigative review.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.