CHAPTER 7

SB 103-FN-LOCAL - FINAL VERSION

 

03/13/2025   0741s

7Jan2026... 2938h

2026 SESSION

25-0557

08/09

 

SENATE BILL 103-FN-LOCAL

 

AN ACT relative to the number of polling stations that are available for certain towns and cities during a general election which includes the election for the office of President of the United States.

 

SPONSORS: Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Gray, Dist 6; Rep. Osborne, Rock. 2; Rep. Berry, Hills. 44; Rep. Pauer, Hills. 36

 

COMMITTEE: Election Law and Municipal Affairs

 

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 

This bill requires towns and cities to provide at least one polling location for every 15,000 registered voters in that town or city for general elections that include an election for President of the United States.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03/13/2025   0741s

7Jan2026... 2938h 25-0557

08/09

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

 

AN ACT relative to the number of polling stations that are available for certain towns and cities during a general election which includes the election for the office of President of the United States.

 

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

 

7:1  New Section; Presidential Elections; Polling Places.  Amend RSA 658 by inserting after section 11 the following new section:

658:11-a Minimum Number of Polling Places; Presidential Elections.

I. In any general election for the office of President of the United States, each town or city shall provide no fewer than one polling location for every 15,000 registered voters as reflected on the checklist as of January 1 of the election year.

II. A town or city seeking to operate a single polling location serving more than 15,000 registered voters shall submit a plan to the secretary of state and the attorney general for joint approval. The plan shall address, at a minimum, the following considerations:  

(a) Anticipated traffic flow to and from the polling site.

(b)  Availability of law enforcement officers or contracted personnel for traffic management.

(c) Number of parking spaces reasonably accessible to voters.

(d) Number of poll books and assigned election workers to assist with voter check-in.

(e) Availability and use of electronic poll books.

(f) Number of ballot-counting devices in operation.

(g)  Number of registration stations and election officials available for same-day registrants.

(h) Any other factors identified by the secretary of state and the attorney general as necessary to ensure efficient voting and minimize delays.

III. The secretary of state and the attorney general may request supplemental information as part of the review process and may condition approval on specific measures to be in place on election day.

7:2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 180 days after its passage.

 

Approved: March 20, 2026

Effective Date: September 16, 2026