New Hampshire 2024 Regular Session

New Hampshire House Bill HB1523

Introduced
12/11/23  

Caption

Revising the moderator's worksheet for counting votes in elections.

Impact

The proposed changes could significantly impact the existing laws regulating the conduct of elections in the state. By streamlining the requirements placed on moderators, HB1523 aims to foster a more standardized election reporting process. This could potentially lead to enhanced accuracy in the reporting of election results, addressing any discrepancies that may arise from different methodologies currently employed by moderators across various jurisdictions. Such amendments could positively influence voter trust in the electoral system by ensuring that all necessary information is accurately and promptly reported.

Summary

House Bill 1523 primarily focuses on revising the moderator's worksheet utilized for counting votes in elections. The bill seeks to enhance the clarity and efficiency of the electoral process by mandating that moderators submit comprehensive reports on various aspects of the voting process. This includes details on ballots cast, both on election day and absentee ballots, and the accurate reporting of votes for candidates, including write-in votes. The revisions aim to ensure that the voting process is transparent and that the data submitted by moderators aligns with state requirements.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB1523 appears largely supportive, particularly among officials concerned with enhancing the integrity and transparency of the voting process. Proponents argue that the bill represents a necessary step toward improving the efficiency and accuracy of vote counting, thus fostering public confidence in electoral outcomes. However, there may be some apprehensions regarding the practical implementation of these revisions, especially among local officials who may feel additional pressure to comply with more stringent reporting requirements.

Contention

Noteworthy points of contention may arise concerning the practical implications of the reporting requirements mandated by HB1523. Critics might argue that the increased burden on moderators to produce comprehensive reports within tight timeframes could lead to errors or oversight, particularly in smaller jurisdictions that may lack the resources to meet these demands effectively. The balance between ensuring thorough reporting and maintaining a manageable workload for election officials will likely be a focal point in discussions pertaining to the bill.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

NH HB345

Enabling ranked-choice voting for state party primary elections and municipal elections.

NH HB482

Requiring the use of ballots with embedded security, traceability, and relative to the chain of custody for ballots cast in elections.

NH HB415

Making ballots cast in elections public documents.

NH HB387

Permitting election ballots to be viewed pursuant to a right to know request.

NH HB495

Relative to counting votes.

NH HB350

Relative to ranked-choice voting.

NH HB502

Relative to voter affidavit ballots.

NH SB133

Relative to changing the date of the state primary election and creates runoff election for federal primary election.

NH HB40

Relative to domicile residency, voter registration, and investigation of voter verification letters, and relative to the terms "resident," "inhabitant," "residence," and "residency."

NH HB460

Relative to eliminating voter identification exceptions.

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