Bill > HB220

This bill modifies the rules for state and presidential primary elections in New Hampshire, primarily changing how undeclared voters (voters not registered with a specific political party) can participate in primary elections. Under the new legislation, voters must announce their party affiliation when voting in a primary, and undeclared voters can only vote in a party's primary if that specific party has explicitly adopted rules permitting such participation. If a party has not adopted such rules, undeclared voters will be prohibited from voting in that party's primary. The bill introduces a new provision that allows any person who is aggrieved by gross negligence or willful misconduct by a party chairperson or the secretary of state in implementing these rules to initiate a legal action and potentially recover court costs and attorney's fees. The bill defines "gross negligence" as deliberate indifference and will take effect on January 1, 2026. The secretary of state is required to notify party chairpersons about these new restrictions and to include information about party rules on voter instruction cards. While the bill does not provide additional funding, it anticipates potential costs related to voter education and potential legal actions, though these costs are currently considered indeterminable.

Government Affairs

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=0152&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB220