New HampshireSecretary of state reviews absentee ballot requests after general elections
After each general election, the secretary of state must review absentee ballot requests, identify ones for investigation, and tell lawmakers how many were referred.
What it does
After each general election, the secretary of state must check absentee ballot data for requests that should go to state election investigators. The check includes requests from several voters sent to one address.
The secretary of state must tell the legislative committees that oversee elections how many requests were sent for investigative review and what kinds of requests they were.
Argument forChecking requests from several voters sent to one address could help officials spot patterns that deserve investigation.
Argument againstReviewing requests from several voters sent to one address could bring ordinary households under scrutiny even when their requests are proper.
More detail
The secretary of state must review absentee ballot data to find requests that should go to the state team that investigates election law. The review covers absentee ballot requests. The review must include requests from several voters sent to one address. A shared address alone does not mean a request must be sent for investigation. The act took effect July 10, 2026. The review follows each general election.
The secretary of state must report how many requests were sent for investigative review and what kinds they were. The report goes to the legislative committees that oversee elections. This requirement took effect July 10, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 16Signed by Governor Kelly Ayotte Ayotte 07/10/2026; Chapter 281; eff. 7/10/2026Became Law
- Jul 1Enrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15 P. 56To Governor
- Jun 29Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 15Minor
- Jun 4Conference Committee Report 2026-2100c: Adopted, VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15 P. 12
- Jun 4Conference Committee Report # 2026-2100c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
- May 28Conference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2100c; 06/04/2026
- May 27Conference Committee Meeting: 05/27/2026 09:00 am GP 228
- May 13President Appoints: Senators Gray, Lang, Long; (In Recess 05/07/2026); SJ 12
- May 13Sen. Gray Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 05/07/2026); SJ 12
- Apr 23Speaker Appoints: Reps. Berry, Qualey, Burnham, Wood 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 83
- Apr 23House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1214s and Requests CofC (Rep. Berry): MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 83
- Mar 26Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1214s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7Passed Senate
- Mar 26Committee Amendment # 2026-1214s, AA, VV; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
- Mar 18Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1214s, 03/26/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 11Minor
- Feb 11Hearing: 02/17/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 09:15 am; SC 6
- Jan 30Introduced 01/29/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 3Minor
- Jan 7Ought to Pass: MA DV 179-157 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 157Passed House
- 2025
- Nov 14Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
- Nov 14Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 09/16/2025 (Vote 10-7; RC) HC 51 P. 30Minor
- Aug 25Executive Session: 09/16/2025 10:15 am GP 158
- Mar 12Retained in Committee
- Mar 6Executive Session: 03/11/2025 09:00 am LOB 306-308
- Feb 27==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 03/04/2025 01:00 pm LOB 306-308
- Feb 12==RECESSED== Executive Session: 02/18/2025 10:10 am LOB 306-308
- Feb 7==RECESSED== Executive Session: 02/11/2025 10:10 am LOB 306-308
- Jan 29Public Hearing: 02/04/2025 11:00 am LOB 306-308
- Jan 6Introduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 2 P. 8Introduced
Civil Rights & Voting