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For members of the public wishing to follow legislation on election and democracy issues, Open Democracy Action provides this tool to learn more, follow developments and take action. The NH House & Senate allow for Granite State voters to remotely register support or opposition to pending legislation. While this is NOT a substitute to calling or writing your state rep or senator, it is fast and easy to do and may give the committee a general impression of support for a bill, and the totals become part of the permanent record. This page will change on Fridays during the legislative season, January through June. Scroll down to see what happened the previous week. If you have questions about this process, please contact Sara Lobdell, Program Coordinator, Open Democracy Action Good news! House Election Law has begun calling for the count of remote sign-ins at the end of every hearing. Many of them have been 50-1, 80-1 or even higher margins. Well done, people! AND, the House has implemented a link where you can see WHO and HOW MANY people signed in on bills, and if they submitted written testimony, you can read it! Wow, some innovation out of the General Court for a change!
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NH House Sign in Instructions NH Senate Sign-In Instructions
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Week of April 29 - May 6, 2022
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Full House Session: Wednesday, May 4, 2022 @ 10AM and Thursday, May 5, 2022 @ 9AM in Representatives Hall |
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| House session complete | Click for details | Comments | |
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Ought to pass with amendment |
relative to verification of voter affidavits. |
Call your Rep and urge them to OPPOSE SB418 because it: -violates voter privacy -disenfranchises overseas military/overseas citizens -jeopardizes First in the Nation status -could disenfranchise same-day registrants who register for the first-time in NH, if they don't follow up with the Secretary of State with ID within 7 days. If you have a relationship with these key Reps, please contact them and express your opposition. |
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Ought to pass with amendment #1702h |
relative to the election of district commissioners in Haverhill. Congressional districts amended to this bill. |
Call your Rep to OPPOSE the Congressional districts because they are: -Not competitive -Did not have a public hearing These districts are almost identical in lack of competitiveness to the Congressional districts the Governor originally vowed to veto. |
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Ought to Pass with amendment |
establishing the personal privacy protection act. Prohibits public agencies and public bodies from releasing any list, record, register, registry, roll, roster or other compilation of data of any kind. |
Call your Rep to OPPOSE SB302 because it: DECREASES transparency in government, in a time when we need more transparency. Makes it more difficult to track Dark money. |
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Full Senate Session: Thursday, May 5, 2022 @ 10AM Senate Chamber |
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| Senate session complete | Click for details | Comments | |
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HB144
Ought to pass with amendment
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relative to absentee ballot request forms |
Call your Senator to SUPPORT this bill, as it makes "illness or medical condition" a reason to request an absentee ballot. Adding this as a reason to request an absentee ballot allows access to the vote for folks who might not be able to vote in-person, but who do not qualify to vote under the other currently accepted reasons to request an absentee ballot. |
Week of April 22 - April 29, 2022
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House Special Committee on Redistricting, April 27, 2022, 11:00AM - 5:00PM, Legislative Office Building Room 201-203. Executive Session on SB200 (Congressional Districts) |
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| Click to EMAIL | Click for details | Comments | ||
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10:00 AM |
OTP with amendment #1702h |
relative to the election of district commissioners in Haverhill. (Congressional districts amended to this bill) |
At the public hearing on Governor Sununu's Congressional districts (4/22) it was made clear the committee intends to amend the Governor's proposal and "make it better." Please email the committee and ask for Congressional districts that are: -Competitive, where there are as equal as possible populations of voters of both major parties so that all voters have an equal shot at electing their candidate -Competitive, so that candidates are accountable to and work in the best interests of all voters -Assure communities are fairly represented -Anything else you'd like to add from previous testimony on what makes a fair map To call attention to your testimony, consider writing in bold purple to highlight that NH is a purple state, and we want a purple map. |
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House Finance Committee, Division I, Tuesday April 26, 2022, 1:00PM, Legislative Office Building, Room 212 House Finance Full Committee, Wednesday April 27, 2022, 3:00PM, Legislative Office Building, Room 210-211 Tuesday is the work meeting (not a public hearing) on SB418, Wednesday is the full committee vote. Please email BOTH Division I of the Finance Committee, and the full committee the following concerns related to the fiscal note of SB418. |
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| Click to EMAIL Committee | Click for details | Comments | ||
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EMAIL Division IEMAIL Full Committee |
Passed |
relative to verification of voter affidavits.
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The goal is to have the fiscal committee determine that the price paid for SB418 in dollars is too costly to implement the bill. To that end, SB418 will be: -Costly to municipalities in money and staff time implementing the more cumbersome same-day registration packet -Likely more costly than the $685,000 estimate, because the state will need to overestimate the # of pre-paid mailers supplied to each polling place. Overestimation is necessary so polling places don't run out of provisional ballot ID verification packets, which would inhibit folks who need to take the packet from voting if they did run out. -Cost overseas military voters and overseas citizens their vote (which could cost NH money if NH does not follow the federal requirement to mail overseas ballots 45 days before the election, as would not be possible under SB418). |
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Governor Sununu - call/email to urge the Governor to commit to vetoing the gerrymandered Senate and Executive Council maps that passed the NH House this week. |
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| Click to CALL | Click to CALL/EMAIL | Click for details | Comments | |
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603-271-2121 |
Info on map here |
apportioning state senate districts |
Proposed Senate districts for 2020-2030. -Would guarantee a veto-proof partisan supermajority in the Senate -Prioritized incumbent Senators, rather than communities of interest or competitive districts Overall, a gerrymandered and uncompetitive map that doesn't give voters a fair choice in their Senator. |
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603-271-2121
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Info on map here |
apportioning executive council districts |
Proposed Executive Council districts for 2020-2030. -District 2 packed with Dem leaning towns, making Repub votes matter less. -District 4 packed with Repub leaning towns, making Dem votes matter less. Overall, a gerrymandered and uncompetitive map that doesn't give voters a fair choice in their Executive Councilors. |
Week of April 15 - April 22, 2022
| House Special Committee on Redistricting, 10AM-5PM, LOB, Room 201-203, Friday April 22, 2022 | T = Written/In-person testimony needed. | |||
| Click the Thumb to sign in | Click for details | Comments | ||
| Neutral or
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10:00 AM |
T(testimony can be in pdf or text form directly on the sign-in page) Oppose: 26 Neutral: 3 Support: 0 |
A Congressional Redistricting Map (the Governor's idea here) is being amended to this bill. relative to the election of district commissioners in Haverhill. |
Testimony could focus on: 1.Competitiveness: this map is better than the map the Governor vowed to veto, but could still do more to make the districts competitive. 2. Deviation: the population deviation between the 2 districts is higher than generally accepted for a Congressional map. The deviation could be lowered by swapping Loudon and Epsom between districts. There will be a visibility 9-10AM outside the LOB. Bring a sign and stand with us for fair maps! |
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Full House Session Thursday, April 21st, 2022 starting 9:00AM House Chamber |
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| Click to Email | Click to See Details | Comments | ||
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CALL(especially these Reps) |
Amendment here
PASSED 180-154 |
relative to verification of voter affidavits. |
-violates voter privacy -disenfranchises overseas military/overseas citizens -jeopardizes First in the Nation status -if same-day registrants who register for the first-time in NH don't come to the polls with a photo ID, they have to take the provisional ballot. If they don't return ID information to the SOS within 7 days of election, their vote gets deducted. Has the potential to disenfranchises voters who don't have a photo ID and move to NH, and Granite Staters turning 18 who don't have an ID. |
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CALL
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Info on map here PASSED |
apportioning state senate districts. |
Proposed Senate districts for 2020-2030. -Would guarantee a veto-proof partisan supermajority in the Senate -Prioritized incumbent Senators, rather than communities of interest or competitive districts Overall, a gerrymandered and uncompetitive map that doesn't give voters a fair choice in their Senator. |
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CALL
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Info on map here PASSED |
apportioning executive council districts. |
Proposed Executive Council districts for 2020-2030. -District 2 packed with Dem leaning towns, making Repub votes matter less. -District 4 packed with Repub leaning towns, making Dem votes matter less. Overall, a gerrymandered and uncompetitive map that doesn't give voters a fair choice in their Executive Councilors. |
| Senate Election Law, 1-4PM, State House, Room 100, April 18, 2022. | ||||
| Sign in Closed | Click to see details | Comments | ||
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1:00PM |
Support: 171 Oppose: 37 Neutral: 3 |
relative to over voted ballots | bill proposes solution to over votes - a ballot where the voter marked too many candidates for an office. Voting machines return over voted ballots for hand-counting by election officials. |
Week of April 8 - April 15, 2022
| House Special Committee on Redistricting, 10:00-4:30PM, April 14, 2022, LOB 201-203 | T = Written/In-person testimony needed. Click on the T for testimony tips | |||
| Sign in Closed | Click to see details | Comments | ||
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10:00 AM |
TCommittee vote: Ought to Pass 8-7 |
apportioning state senate districts. |
Majority party's Senate redistricting map for 2020-2030. This map would likely guarantee a veto-proof partisan supermajority in the Senate, and needs to be amended so that ALL Granite Staters can have competitive, fair elections for the next decade. Click the "T" to learn how the map affects your community, and email the Committee your testimony: [email protected]
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10:30 AM |
TCommittee vote: Ought to Pass 8-7 |
apportioning executive council districts. | Majority party's Executive Council redistricting map with amendment. This amendment "fixes" gerrymandered District 2 by packing more Democrat-leaning towns into District 2, and more Republican-leaning towns into District 4. The votes of voters in the opposite party in these districts will not be heard in the next decade's elections. Click the "T" to learn how the map affects your community, and
and email the Committee your testimony: [email protected]
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House Election Law Committee, Wednesday, April 13th, 2022 *Executive Session* No sign-ins. Please send the Committee an email to support SB425 and oppose SB418. |
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| Executive Session Complete | Click to see details | Comments | ||
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Committee vote: 11-9 Ought to Pass with amendment |
relative to verification of voter affidavits. | creates a provisional ballot system where ballots will be deducted from the count if certain voters fail to certify their identity post-election. Will cast more doubt on elections that are already safe and secure, will disenfranchise the UOCAVA overseas military vote, and may cause NH to lose FITN status. TALKING POINTS | |
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Committee vote: 11-9 Inexpedient to Legislate |
relative to the establishment of an election information portal. | Will modernize NH's elections and make it easier for folks to submit information to the clerk to register to vote, and change information (like address, party, etc) in their voter file. | |
Week of April 1 - April 8, 2022
| House Election Law, 10:00-1:00PM, April 8, 2022, LOB 306-308 | T = Written/In-person testimony needed. Click on the T for testimony tips | |||
| Sign in CLOSED | Click to see details | Comments | ||
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10:00 AM |
Support: 3 Oppose: 16 |
relative to political expenditures and contributions. |
Relaxes current campaign finance regulations by allowing candidate committees, non-candidate political committees and political advocacy organizations unlimited contributions to the same. Allows persons or corporations unlimited contributions to political advocacy organizations. |
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10:30 AM |
Support: 60 Oppose: 4 |
relative to the establishment of an election information portal. |
This is a priority bill for ODA that modernizes NH's elections and makes the voting registration process easier for voters. An election information portal would allow voters to easily and electronically input information into a system for town/city clerks approval. Voters could input registration info, change voter registration, request an absentee ballot, and change mailing or domicile addresses. |
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11:00 AM |
TSupport: 86 Oppose: 868
Talking points the same for the amended bill, EXCEPT that same-day registrants are NOT required to take a provisional ballot, unless they are registering for the first time in NH. |
relative to verification of voter affidavits. | creates a provisional ballot system where ballots will be deducted from the count if voters who come to the polls without photo ID fails to provide adequate documentation proving identity and domicile within 10 days. Will cast more doubt on elections that are already safe and secure, will disenfranchise the UOCAVA overseas military vote, and may cause NH to lose FITN status. |
| House Judiciary Committee, 9-4:30PM, April 7, 2022, LOB 206-208 | T = written/in-person testimony needed | |||
| Sign in CLOSED | Click to see details | |||
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1:00 PM |
Support: 7 Oppose: 12 |
establishing the personal privacy protection act. |
A bill that DECREASES transparency in government in a time when we need more transparency. Also makes it MORE difficult to track Dark money. Prohibits public agencies and public bodies from releasing any list, record, register, |
| House Election Law, 9:30-4:30PM, April 6, 2022, LOB 306-308 |
T= Written/In-Person Testimony Needed |
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| Sign in CLOSED |
Click to see details |
Comments / Results | ||
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10:00 AM |
Support: 48 Oppose: 1 |
relative to the use of electronic poll books. | Electronic poll books are required to have a paper backup alongside E-pollbook use. This bill extends the lag time for the paper printout, from every 10 min to every 30 minutes. |
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10:30 AM |
Support: 122 Oppose: 0 |
relative to absentee ballot outer envelopes. | Makes the absentee ballot process easier for clerks and absentee registrants. This bill removes the requirement that absentee ballots be placed in outer envelopes unless ballots are mailed to town or city clerks. The bill also allows clerks to open outer envelopes to allow applicants time to cure defects. |
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11:30 AM |
Support: 189 Oppose: 3 T |
bill permits absentee voting due to illness or other medical conditions. |
Adds "illness or medical condition" as a reason for requesting an absentee ballot. Testimony points: Folks voting absentee due to safety concerns for Covid-19 may not feel comfortable selecting "disability" as a reason for requesting an absentee ballot, as they must do in current law, but could select "illness" with this law and vote absentee. This bill also makes it easier for folks to vote absentee who are unable to make it to the polls for a non-Covid-related illness they may not consider a disability. |
| Senate Education, 1-4PM, April 6, 2022, LOB 101 |
T= Written/In-Person Testimony Needed Click on the T for testimony tips |
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| Sign in CLOSED |
Click to see details |
Comments / Results | ||
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1:20 PM |
Support: 91 Oppose: 3 |
relative to assistance to certain students with disabilities in registering to vote. | Requires coordinators of individualized education programs (IEPs) to incorporate voter registration into those plans, if appropriate on a student-by-student basis, in schools where accessible voter registration is not already provided. |
| Senate Election Law & Municipal Affairs, 1-4PM, April 4, 2022, State House 100 |
T= Written/In-Person Testimony Needed Click on the T for testimony tips |
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| Sign in CLOSED |
Click to see details |
Comments / Results | ||
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1:00 PM |
Support: 7 Oppose: 28 |
relative to absentee ballot requests. | Qualifies that absentee ballots can't be sent to voters before an absentee ballot request form is received by the clerk. As the law stands now, often clerks send both the absentee ballot and request form in one package. This bill will make it difficult for absentee voters to vote if they apply for a ballot close to elections, or if they don't have access to a printer, because they will have to wait for two forms to be mailed to them as opposed to one. Our procedures are already a gold standard, they don't need to be changed and made more difficult. |
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1:30 PM |
Support: 10 Oppose: 35 |
(New Title) relative to domicile residency, voter registration, and investigation of voter verification letters. |
This is a good bill, that got stuck with a BAD amendment. We are opposing the bill as amended, which has the potential to make voting burdensome for folks who move frequently or have moved recently. It also includes language similar to language that was struck down by the NH Supreme Court in the SB3 case. |
Week of March 25 - April 1, 2022
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NH Senate Session, March 31st, 10AM, Senate Chamber *Floor Vote* No Sign in. See guidance below. |
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| Click to see details | Comments | |||
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13-11 passed, will next be heard in the House |
(Talking points the same for the amended bill, EXCEPT that same-day registrants are NOT required to take a provisional ballot) |
relative to verification of voter affidavits |
SB418 was amended and passed in committee. The amendment removes same-day voters from the group of people required to take a provisional ballot, but that does not go far enough to change this bill's potential to disenfranchise. Our next opportunity to stop this bill is at the full Senate vote this Thursday. Please call your NH Senator to oppose this BAD bill. See talking points for full details. It is a Big Lie bill intended to do an end-run around New Hampshire's Qualified Voter Affidavit system, which NH chose to do to accept Help America Vote Act (HAVA) fund. It creates a system of provisional ballots of a different identifying color which will be deducted from the count if the voter fails to return with adequate documentation proving identity and domicile. |
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Passed, will next be heard in the House
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SB425 | relative to the establishment of an election information portal |
This is a priority bill for ODA that modernizes NH's elections and makes the voting registration process easier for voters. An election information portal would allow voters to easily and electronically input information into a system for town/city clerks approval. Voters could input registration info, change voter registration, request an absentee ballot, and change mailing or domicile addresses. |
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| Senate Election Law & Municipal Affairs Committee, 1-4PM, March 28, 2022, State House, Room 100 | ||||
| Hearing CLOSED | Click to see details | Comments | ||
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2:15 PM |
Support: 16 Oppose: 92 Neutral: 0 |
(New Title) relative to consequences resulting from election official misconduct. | This bill allows the AG to fine a county, city, town, school district, village district, or other political subdivision between $250-1000 when an election official is found to have engaged in misconduct. ODA opposes this bill because it intimidates poll workers. Also, it should be the Secretary of State's responsibility to properly train election officials and therefore take responsibility for mistakes, rather than fine municipalities for misconduct. |
Week of March 18 - March 25, 2022
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NH Senate Session, March 24th, 9AM-1PM, Senate Chamber *Floor Vote* No Sign in. See guidance below. |
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| Click to see Details | Comments | |||
| special ordered to next week, vote will be next week |
(Talking points the same for the amended bill, EXCEPT that same-day registrants are NOT required to take a provisional ballot) |
relative to verification of voter affidavits |
SB418 was amended and passed in committee. The amendment removes same-day voters from the group of people required to take a provisional ballot, but that does not go far enough to change this bill's potential to disenfranchise. Our next opportunity to stop this bill is at the full Senate vote this Thursday. Please call your NH Senator to oppose this BAD bill. See talking points for full details. It is a Big Lie bill intended to do an end-run around New Hampshire's Qualified Voter Affidavit system, which NH chose to do to accept Help America Vote Act (HAVA) fund. It creates a system of provisional ballots of a different identifying color which will be deducted from the count if the voter fails to return with adequate documentation proving identity and domicile. |
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Passed (12-10) with amendment 1188s |
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apportioning executive council districts |
SB241 unamended is the Executive Council redistricting map that is identical to NH's current redistricting map (with the "Dragon" District 2). Sen. Gray released an amendment that will be taken up Thursday on the floor. While District 2 no longer stretches from river to sea, the amendment does not change that the district is full of Democrat leaning towns. Further, there has been no public hearing on this bill; no chance for the public to weigh in on changes. Call your Senator to oppose SB241 and ANY amendments that are not competitive and have not been given a public hearing. |
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Week of March 11 - March 18, 2022
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Full NH Senate Session, March 17th 9AM, Senate Chamber *Floor Vote* No Sign in on these bills. Please call your NH Senator and urge them to amend these maps so they are competitive, not gerrymandered. |
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Session over CALL |
HB52 |
apportioning congressional districts. Senate passed 13-11 |
This is the House's approved bill, which rigs CD1 & CD2 to both be uncompetitive. CD2 gets packed with Democratic-leaning towns, while CD1 is packed with Republican-leaning towns, breaking a 140-year tradition. The Princeton Gerrymandering Project, the ACLU and NH's Map-a-Thon project all have determined that the map is uncompetitive and gerrymandered. | |
CALL |
SB241 |
apportioning executive council districts |
This is the Majority's proposed EC districts, that are the same as the 2010 gerrymandered districts. These districts include the "Dragon" district 2 that spans the state and is packed with Democrat-leaning towns, leaving the other districts more Republican-leaning. | |
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Full NH House Session, March 15-17th, House Chamber *Floor Vote* No Sign in. See guidance on each bill below. |
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Session over Call |
HB1203 | relative to domicile residency, voter registration, and investigation of voter verification letters, and relative to the terms "resident," "inhabitant," "residence," and "residency." |
Please call your NH Representative and urge them to "Table" this bill. This is a good bill, that got stuck with a BAD amendment. We are opposing the bill as amended, which has the potential to make voting burdensome for folks who move frequently/have moved recently. It also includes language similar to language that was struck down by the NH Supreme Court in the SB3 case. |
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Call |
Laid on Table |
establishing ranked-choice voting for state party primary elections and municipal elections. |
Please call your NH Representative and urge them to pass/support this bill. |
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NH Senate Election Law, March 14th, 2022 *Executive Session* No Sign in. Please call Chairman Gray to vote "Interim Study" on SB418. An amendment was brought forth to clarify some language on this bill, but it's too little too late. The entire premise of this bill has negative consequences for voting rights and should be opposed. We're asking the committee to "study" the bill, with the hope that it will die in study and not be re-introduced. |
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Executive Session Over CALL |
Hearing results: Support: 82 Oppose: 177 Neutral: 0 OTP with amendment |
relative to verification of voter affidavits | This is a Big Lie bill intended to do an end-run around New Hampshire's Qualified Voter Affidavit system, which NH chose to do to accept Help America Vote Act (HAVA) fund. It creates a system of provisional ballots of a different identifying color which will be deducted from the count if the voter fails to return with adequate documentation proving identity and domicile. This bill adversely affects students and the poor, resulting in disenfranchisement. ODA strongly opposes this bill. | |
Week of March 4 - March 11, 2022
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NH House Election Law, March 9th, 2022 *Executive Session Bills Below* No Sign in on these bills, but we encourage you to call/email the Committee to oppose these bills and vote "Inexpedient to Legislate." |
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| Executive Session Complete |
HB1473-FN (interim study) HB 1064-FN (ITL) HB 1485-FN (ITL) HB 1542-FN (ITL) HB 1543-FN (ITL) CACR 15 (OTP with amendment 11-9) HB 1567-FN (OTP with amendment 12 - 8) |
Call/Email |
One email for all bills is fine. These are all Big Lie bills we have opposed in the past. Scroll down for more details on each bill if needed, they are all described further down the page. Many of these bills propose a solution where no problem exists, so your call/email might include the sentiment that "if it ain't broke...don't fix it." Or, why spend taxpayer money on sham election reviews, when our election has already been certified? Or a message based in voting rights, that ALL votes and all voices matter, elections are already secure and fair, no need to make it more complicated for the public to vote. |
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| Senate Election Law, 1-4PM, March 7, 2022, State House, Room 100 |
T= Written/In-Person Testimony Needed Click on the T for testimony tips |
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| Sign in CLOSED | Click to see details | Comments | ||
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1:00 PM |
Support: 6 Oppose: 95 Neutral: 0 |
relative to the definition of electioneering. | Repeals the prohibition on electioneering related to clothing and/or paraphernalia for non-election officials. |
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1:15 PM |
HB144
Support: 151 Oppose: 9
Neutral: 0
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relative to absentee ballot request forms. | A bill that expands storm-related reasons for requesting an absentee ballot, and modernizes language around domicile location. |
Week of February 25 - March 4, 2022
No Hearings in NH Senate or House Election Law.
Week of February 18 - February 25, 2022
| House Election Law, 9-11AM, February 23, 2022, LOB 306-308 |
T= Written/In-Person Testimony Needed Click on the T for testimony tips
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| Sign in CLOSED | Click to see details | Comments/Results | ||
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10:00 AM |
Support: 15 Oppose: 142 Neutral: 0
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relating to elections. Providing that the age to vote in the primary election be reduced to 17 for those who will be 18 by the general election. |
This hearing is a public hearing on non-germane amendment #2022-0735h to CACR 15, which is essentially a copy of CACR 36. We opposed CACR 36, which added "primary residence" to domicile and we think is another attempt to disenfranchise college students. We support this bill in its original form, but NOT in this amended form. We are opposing the amended form of this bill. |
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*Executive Session Bills Below* No Sign in on these bills, but we encourage you to send an email to the House Election Law Committee to support these bills before the executive session. One email for both bills is fine. |
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| Exec Session Over | 11:00AM |
ITL |
relative to permissible campaign contributions by business organizations and labor unions. | ODA's "Corporate Ban" bill, which keeps business entities from using money our the corporation's treasury as campaign contributions. Instead, they must use segregated funds for such activities, such as individual contributions by employees held in one fund. |
| Exec Session Over | 11:00AM |
ITL |
relative to the reporting of certain campaign contributions and relative to political contributions made by limited liability companies |
Amends RSA 664 to insert LLCs into the requirements that "any political committee, political advocacy organization, or candidate that makes a contribution to any other committee, organization, or candidate of over $1,000 that is comprised of funds received from donations, contributions, dues, or gifts from a different entity shall include the total amount and source of such funds in any report required to be submitted pursuant to this chapter." LLCs are a source of Dark Money because it is difficult to trace back ownership of the LLC. |
| House Transportation, Feb 22, 2022, 9-5pm, State House, Reps Hall |
T= Written/In-Person Testimony Needed Click on the T for testimony tips!
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| Sign in CLOSED | Click to see details | Comments/Results | ||
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9:00 AM |
TSupport: 5 Oppose: 125 Neutral: 0
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modifying the new resident drivers' license transfer requirement. |
This bill establishes a $10/month fine to be assessed on anyone establishing residency in NH who hasn't obtained an NH driver's license within 60 days of establishing residency. It also requires the secretary of state to notify the department of safety when an individual's We oppose this bill for its potential to intimidate and disenfranchise voters, particularly college students. |
Week of February 11 - February 18, 2022
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House Floor Vote - Not a Hearing |
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| NH House, February 16, 2022 |
Click on "Call" to find your Representative's number, and "Talking Points" for information to share with your Rep. |
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| Sign in CLOSED for this bill. | Click to see details | Comments/Results | ||
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Call |
relative to campaign contributions and expenditures, and making an appropriation therefor. |
Priority Bill: One of Granny D's signature reforms, ODA's Honest Elections public funding of elections bill will not only reduce the influence of special interests, it will help candidates without big money funding to compete. It distributes four $25 Voter Dollars certificates to registered voters to donate to the gubernatorial or Executive Council candidates of their choice. This bill is being voted on by the full NH House on Wednesday, Feb 16th. Please call your NH House Rep urging them to support this bill. |
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| Senate Election Law & Municipal Affairs, February 14, 2022, 1:00 - 4:00PM, State House, Room 100 |
T= Written/In-Person Testimony Needed Click on the T for testimony tips! |
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| Sign in CLOSED for these bills | Click to see details | Comments/Results | ||
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1:00 PM |
TSupport: 69 Oppose: 2 Committee rec: Interim Study |
relative to political contributions made by limited liability companies | An important bill for campaign finance reform that closes the LLC loophole, which currently lets business owners make multiple campaign contributions to a single candidate beyond the current contribution limit of $15,000. SB248 closes this loophole by requiring political contributions be allocated to per LLC's members, rather than per LLC itself, for purposes of determining whether contribution limits have been exceeded. |
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1:15 PM |
Support: 11 Oppose: 28 |
relative to political expenditures and contributions. |
Defines the limit on political contributions made by a person, corporation, candidate committee, non-candidate political committee, or political advocacy organization. However, wording is confusing as relates to contributions by partnerships and unions - are these contributions prohibited? Or prohibited only in excess of the defined limits? We are asking you to oppose this bill until we have more information/clarity on the bill's writing. |
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1:30 PM |
Support: 61 Oppose: 1 OTP with amendment |
relative to absentee ballot outer envelopes. | Removes the requirement that absentee ballots be placed in outer envelopes, unless returned by mail to town or city clerk. Allows clerks to open outer envelopes of absentee ballots marked "not registered" to look at registration paperwork and notify voter so that voter may correct paperwork if paperwork is incomplete within 7 days of receiving ballot. |
Week of February 5 - February 11, 2022
| House Election Law, February 10, 2022, 9:30 - 11:00AM, LOB, 306-308 | T= Written/In-Person Testimony Needed | |||
| Sign in CLOSED for these bills. | Click to see details | Comments/Results | ||
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10:00 AM |
Support: 2 Oppose: 188 Neutral: 0
Inexpedient to Legislate |
establishing a formula to allocate presidential electors to presidential nominees. | Instead of the "winner take all" system we have now, HB 1324 establishes a formula to allocate presidential electors starting in 2024. Candidates win electors based on the fraction of the popular vote they win. An alarming provision tucked in the bill includes a provision which bypasses the NH SOS, and takes accusations of voter fraud in presidential elections to the NH Senate, then to the NH Supreme Court. |
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10:30 AM |
Support: 8 Oppose: 57 Neutral: 0
Inexpedient to Legislate |
relative to the election-day duties of incumbent election officials who also appear on the ballot. | Prohibits all election officials, except clerks, from performing election duties, electioneering, and standing within the guardrail during the counting of votes when that election official is on the ballot. |
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11:00 AM |
Support: 7 Oppose: 138 Neutral: 0
ITL |
relative to the voter registration process. | Modifies voter registration form to read "domicile/residence," among other edits, and establishes a provisional ballot system. Provisional ballots are given to voters registering on election day or whose voter registration information has not been verified by election day. Dangerous bill that creates a provisional ballots system, segregates votes based on time of registration, and that allows clerks to invalidate votes without giving voters a chance to correct information that the clerk may deem incomplete or incorrect. |
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*Executive Session* - No Testimony Taken |
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Senate Election Law & Municipal Affairs Committee, February 7, 2022, 1 - 4PM, State House, Room 100 |
T = Written/In-Person Testimony Needed | |||
| Sign in for this bill's hearing is now CLOSED |
Click to see details |
Comments / Results | ||
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apportioning state representative districts. | We *think* this bill, the NH house district maps, will be voted on in committee on Monday. Click on the "Email" link to send a final email to the committee members before their executive session, urging them to oppose these gerrymandered maps. | |
Week of January 28 - February 4, 2022
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House Election Law, February 3, 2022, 9:30 - 10:30AM, LOB, 306-308 |
T = Written/In-Person Testimony Needed | |||
| Sign in is now closed | Click to see details | Comments / Results | ||
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10:00 AM |
Support: 133 Oppose: 272 Neutral: 0
Ought to pass with Amendment
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relative to election challengers. | Again, based on debunked allegations of fraud, this allows partisan election challengers within 6 feet of any table where ballots are hand counted, and to maintain line of sight on any electric ballot counting device. Observers are already allowed to observe, but must remain outside the "guardrail" to prevent interference or intimidation of election workers. |
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NH Senate Election Law & Municipal Affairs, Jan. 31, 2022, 1 pm - 4 pm ***Representatives Hall*** 2nd Floor, State House |
T = Written/In-Person Testimony Needed | |||
| Sign in is now closed |
Click to see details | Comments / Results | ||
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1:00 PM |
OTP with Amendment (3-2) Senate Laid on Table |
residency for the purpose of voting. Providing that only residents of the state may vote in elections. | This proposed NH Constitutional amendment adds these two sentences: "All elections are to be free, and every person who is a citizen of the United States and a citizen of the state of New Hampshire, and 18 years of age and upwards shall have an equal right to vote in any election. Every person shall be considered a citizen of the state of New Hampshire for the purposes of voting in town, ward, or unincorporated place where that person is domiciled and has primary residency." Sounds innocuous enough, but the definition of "primary residency" may be another effort to keep college students legally domiciled in NH from voting. |
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1:20 PM |
Interim study (3-2) |
establishing redistricting criteria. | Currently there is limited constitutional or statute criteria for redistricting, which allows legislators to gerrymander for partisan advantage. This bill defines -- only for the NH House and Senate districts, "communities of interest" as similarities of interests, including but not limited to racial, ethnic, economic, social, cultural, geographic, or historic identities. Communities of interest shall not include common relationships with political parties or political candidates," and prohibits "unduly favoring or disfavoring any political party, incumbent, or candidate for office." ODA supports this bill, but urges the Senate to include the Executive Council in this statute. |
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1:45 PM |
THearing: Support: 5 Oppose: 376 Committee Vote: Ought to Pass with Amendment #0560s Full Senate: Passed 14-10 House Concurs |
apportioning state representative districts. | The majority's proposal passed the House with few changes. We oppose this bill because it gerrymanders some districts for partisan gain, but more importantly denies 56 towns their NH Constitution-guaranteed dedicated House seats, when the Map-a-Thon proved that number could be substantially lower. An amendment has been proposed which includes changes to Coos County & Hillsborough County. |
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1:45 PM |
THearing: Support 5 Oppose 547 Committee vote: OTP without amendment
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apportioning congressional districts. | This is the House's approved bill, which rigs CD1 & CD2 to both be uncompetitive. CD2 gets packed with Democratic-leaning towns, while CD1 is packed with Republican-leaning towns, breaking a 140-year tradition. The Princeton Gerrymandering Project, the ACLU and NH's Map-a-Thon project all have determined that the map is uncompetitive and gerrymandered. ODA strongly opposes this bill. Amendments are expected to this bill, but have not yet been posted. |
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House Election Law, February 2, 2022, 9:30 - 2 pm ***Representatives Hall*** 2nd Floor, State House |
T = Written/In-Person Testimony Needed | |||
| Sign in is now closed | Click to see details | Comments / Results | ||
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9:30 AM |
Support: 290 Oppose: 302 Neutral: 1
Inexpedient to Legislate
Laid on Table
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requiring a forensic audit of the 2020 election results. |
This is a crackpot Big Lie bill of the first order. It requires the speaker of the house to appoint an outside party to do a sham recount of the Nov 3, 2020 general election. It also sets up a fund to offset the costs of the recount to be administered by the secretary of state and can be paid into by private donors. |
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10:30 AM |
Support: 275 Oppose: 289 Neutral: 0
Interim study |
authorizing a forensic audit of the November 3, 2020 election results in Merrimack county for president, governor, and United States senate races. |
Outlines how a sham election review is to be conducted and who is to be elected to the third party audit team. NH already has recount and proper audit mechanisms in place to address the rare occurrence of a questioned process. This sole purpose of this partisan exercise is to cast doubt on the 2020 election. |
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House Education, February 2, 2022, LOB, 205-207 |
T = Written/In-Person Testimony Needed | |||
| Sign in is now closed | Click to see details | Comments / Results | ||
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9:00 AM |
Support: 143 Oppose: 28 Neutral: 0 |
relative to assistance to certain students with disabilities in registering to vote. | Requires coordinators of individualized education programs (IEPs) or accommodations to incorporate voter registration into those plans, if appropriate, on a student-by-student basis, in schools where accessible voter registration is not already provided. |
Week of January 21 - Jan 28, 2022
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NH Senate Election Law & Municipal Affairs, Jan. 24, 1-4 pm, State House, Rm 100
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T = Written/In-Person Testimony Needed | |||
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Sign in is now CLOSED for bills below |
Click to see details | Comments / Results | ||
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2:00 PM |
Committee Vote: Ought to Pass (5-0) |
relative to the establishment of an election information portal. | Priority Bill: This is the return of Sen. Gray's online voter portal (not to be confused with an online registration system). This portal would allow the voter to directly input information & documents into a system the NH SOS administers, and transmits it to town or city clerks for final approval. Voters could input registration info, change voter registration, request an absentee ballot, and change mailing or domicile addresses. ODA supports modernizing elections, and this would be a step into the 20th (not quite the 21st) century for the state. |
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2:20 PM |
Support: 85 Oppose: 26 TOTP with amendment |
modifying the absentee voter registration process, absentee ballot application, and absentee ballot voting process. | Priority Bill: This current absentee ballot application "disability" language currently limited to four allowable excuses. SB 427 allows a voter to request an absentee ballot with "no excuse," allowing any qualified voter to use it. |
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NH Senate Election Law & Municipal Affairs, Jan. 26, 1-4 pm, State House, Rm 100
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T = Written/In-Person Testimony Needed | |||
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Sign in is now CLOSED for bills below |
Click to see details | Comments / Results | ||
| Neutral | 1:45 PM |
Support: 1 Oppose: 0 Committee Vote: OTP (3-2) |
apportioning county commissioner districts. |
This is the state's voting district map of county commissioner seats. Neither ODA nor the Map-a-Thon Project has taken a position on these maps. |
| Neutral | 1:45 PM |
Support: 5 Oppose: 0 Committee Vote: OTP (3-2) Amended By Senate House Concurs |
apportioning delegates to state party conventions. | This map apportions political party delegates who will attend state conventions of the parties. There was some question in the House Special Committee as to why this was even a function of the state legislature. Neither ODA nor the Map-a-Thon Project has taken a position on this map. |
NH House
No House Election Law this week.
| NH House Judiciary Committee - Jan. 27, 9 - 5 pm, LOB Rm. 206-208 |
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Sign in is now CLOSED for bills below |
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11:00 AM |
TSupport: 338 Oppose: 15 Neutral: 0
Laid on Table |
allowing public meetings to be conducted virtually. | This bill addresses what many advocacy organizations have been asking for since the 2020 emergency orders expired. HB 1014 would allow both interactive online participation by the public, it would also allow legislators to be able to participate and vote remotely. ODA supports this bill because it allows greater participation by the public. If you would benefit from participating remotely, please submit testimony on this bill. |
Week of January 17 - 23, 2022
NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE
| House Election Law, January 19, 2022, LOB, Rm 306-308 | T = Written/In-Person Testimony Needed | |||
| Sign in is now CLOSED for bills below |
Click to see details | Comments / Results | ||
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9:45 AM |
Hearing Support: 54 Oppose: 2 Neutral: 0 Inexpedient to Legislate
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relative to political contributions made by certain business entities. |
This amend RSA 664:4 to ban political contributions by any person or business entity that has received any grant from the state of New Hampshire in the last 2 years. |
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10:00 AM |
Hearing Support: 69 Oppose: 3 Neutral: 0 |
relative to permissible campaign contributions by business organizations and labor unions. |
ODA's "Corporate Ban" bill, which keeps business entities from using money our the corporation's treasury as campaign contributions. Instead, they must use segregated funds for such activities, such as individual contributions by employees held in one fund. |
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10:30 AM |
Hearing Support: 63 Oppose: 2 Neutral: 0 |
relative to the reporting of certain campaign contributions and relative to political contributions made by limited liability companies. |
Amends RSA 664 to insert LLCs into the requirements that "any political committee, political advocacy organization, or candidate that makes a contribution to any other committee, organization, or candidate of over $1,000 that is comprised of funds received from donations, contributions, dues, or gifts from a different entity shall include the total amount and source of such funds in any report required to be submitted pursuant to this chapter." LLCs are a source of Dark Money because it is difficult to trace back ownership of the LLC. |
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10:45 AM |
Hearing TSupport: 95 Oppose: 8 Neutral: 0
inexpedient to legislate (ITL) |
relative to campaign contributions and expenditures, and making an appropriation therefor. |
Priority Bill: One of Granny D's signature reforms, ODA's Honest Elections public funding of elections bill will not only reduce the influence of special interests, it will help candidates without big money funding to compete. It distributes four $25 Voter Dollars certificates to registered voters to donate to the gubernatorial or Executive Council candidates of their choice. Written testimony encouraged by Tuesday night for distribution Wednesday, January 19. |
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11:00 AM |
Hearing Support: 13 Oppose: 140 Neutral: 1 ITL |
relative to documentation required to prove a voter's eligibility to vote. | This Big Lie bill attempts to make voters who do not have/own a state identification to fill out a "provisional" ballot, which would NOT BE COUNTED unless the voter returns the same day. This could disenfranchise the poor, the elderly, young voters, disabled and other voters for who do not have or can't afford a state ID at a cost of $50. |
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1:30 PM |
Hearing Support: 126 Oppose: 6 Neutral: 0 ITL |
relative to access to election and voter information. | This bill allows, and sets costs for, the distribution of voter checklist information in multiple languages. Reportedly, the bill will be amended to include voter registration information in multiple languages for cities where compliance with the Voting Rights Act thresholds are met. |
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House Election Law, Jan. 20, 2022, State House, Rm 100 T = Written/In-Person Testimony Needed |
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| Sign in is now CLOSED for bills below | Click to see details | Comments / Results | ||
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9:30 AM |
Hearing Support: 16 Oppose: 92 Neutral: 0
OTP with amendment (12-8)
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relative to the removal of election officials from office. | A Big Lie bill which allows voters to bring a suit against election officials for to the conduct of elections for failure to perform such official's election duties. ODA sees this as a dangerous bill which is designed to intimidate election officials from running a fair and nonpartisan election. |
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10:00 AM |
Hearing Support: 15 Oppose: 41 Neutral: 0 ITL |
relative to direct recall elections. | This allows any town official serving a three-year term to be subject to a recall election if a voter can obtain enough signatures to reach 10% of the previous town or city election turnout. ODA opposes this bill because the bar is dangerously low and makes it easy to frivolously recall an official, and is expensive to cities and towns to run additional elections. |
NH Senate
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NH Senate Election Law & Municipal Affairs, Jan. 20, 1-4 pm, State House, Rm 100 T = Written/In-Person Testimony Needed |
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2:30 PM |
Hearing- Support: 82 Oppose: 177 Neutral: 0 OTP with amendment |
relative to verification of voter affidavits. | This is a Big Lie bill intended to do an end-run around New Hampshire's Qualified Voter Affidavit system, which NH chose to do to accept Help America Vote Act (HAVA) fund. It creates a system of provisional ballots of a different identifying color which will be deducted from the count if the voter fails to return with adequate documentation proving identity and domicile. This bill adversely affects students and the poor, resulting in disenfranchisement. ODA strongly opposes this bill. |
Week of January 10 - 16, 2022
NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE
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House Election Law, January 13, 2022, LOB, Rm 306-308 |
T = Written/In-Person Testimony Needed | |||
| Sign in Now Closed |
Click to see details | Comments / Results | ||
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9:30 AM |
ITL |
relating to ballot measures. Providing that upon petition by voters, a question may be placed on the ballot of a statewide election. | NH currently has no ballot initiative provision, and the argument has been that with so many reps, it wasn't necessary. But issues like redistricting, where the voice of the people has been ignored, make an argument for a constitutional amendment allowing a ballot initiative. This constitutional amendment would allow for a separate ballot initiative when signatures of 5% of registered voters have been collected. |
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10:00 AM |
Hearing ITL |
relative to ranked-choice voting. | Establishes a system of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) for state general elections in New Hampshire. |
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10:30 AM |
Hearing Laid on Table |
establishing ranked-choice voting for state party primary elections and municipal elections. | Establishes Ranked Choice Voting for state primary elections and municipal elections. |
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11:00 AM |
ITL |
relating to elections. Providing that all elections in New Hampshire shall be by ranked-choice voting. | A constitutional amendment which establishes that all elections in New Hampshire should be conducted through Ranked Choice Voting. |
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1:00 PM |
Hearing OTP with amendment |
relating to elections. Providing that the age to vote in the primary election be reduced to 17 for those who will be 18 by the general election. | Amends Article 11 of the NH Constitution to allow citizens who will be 18 by the general election to be able to register and vote in the state primary at age 17. |
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1:30 PM |
Hearing |
relating to paper ballots. Providing that all elections shall be conducted through paper ballots. | This proposed constitutional amendment which would require all NH elections to be conducted on paper ballots. It does not specify how those ballots should be counted, but would disallow modern voting electronic voting machines such as touch screen systems. |
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2:00 PM |
Support: 276 Oppose: 191 Neutral: 0
ITL
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requiring the use of hand-marked, durable paper ballots in elections. | Like CACR 19, this Big Lie bill would require the use of paper ballots, but additionally specifies that no electronic ballot counting devices can be used, and all ballots must be hand counted, even in large towns and cities where tens of thousands of ballots would have to be hand counted. Such a bill would cost municipalities in extra labor, and hand counting has proved to be overall less accurate. |
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2:30 PM |
Hearing OTP |
relative to electronic ballot counting devices. | Yet another Big Lie bill, this one prohibiting the connection of any electronic ballot counting device from being connected to the internet. Thus security and maintenance updates for the machines would need to be done in person. NH's current AccuVote machines are so old that they don't have the ability to connect, but it would have an impact on future equipment. |
| 3:00 PM |
Support: 19 Oppose: 4 Neutral: 0
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relative to folded ballots. | The problem and subsequent audit in 2020 and 2021 in Windham was likely caused by folded ballots being misread by the AccuVote readers. This bill disallows folded ballots from being read by machine and requires them to be hand counted. | |
NH SENATE
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NH Senate Election Law & Municipal Affairs, Jan. 12, 1-4 pm, State House, Rm 100 T = Written/In-Person Testimony Needed |
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| Sign in Now Closed | Click to see details | Comments / Results | ||
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1:20 PM |
Committee Vote: Ought to Pass (4-0)
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relative to the disqualification of certain persons from performing the duties of an election official. | A failed 2021 bill attempted to disallow moderators from counting or handling ballots if that person was on the ballot him or herself. This 2022 bill expands the scope to any official, but excluding election officials. For instance, you could be running for selectboard or another position, and you would be disqualified from handling ballots. If running just for moderator or supervisor, the statute would not apply. ODA feels that this rule would severely hamper elections in smaller towns. |
| 1:40 PM |
Hearing- Support: 6 Oppose: 2 Neutral: 0 Committee Vote: Ought to Pass with Amendment |
relative to the date of the state primary election. | proposes state primary be moved to June. | |
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2:00 PM |
Committee Vote: Ought to Pass (4-0) Hearing |
relative to the use of electronic poll books. | This a bill which follows 2021's attempt to approve electronic poll books, which aid election workers in checking voters in and in processing absentee ballots. It will reduce lines, reduce labor, and should improve accuracy of data entry. |
| 2:20 PM |
Hearing: Support: 15 Oppose: 5 Neutral: 0 Committee Vote: Ought to Pass (5-0) with Amendment |
requiring an audit of ballots cast in the 2022 primary and general election. | This bill aims to do a spot check of 1-3% or 3 or 4 AccuVote ballot reading machines to identify any problems which might occur with the machines. | |
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