Bill > HB352

This bill prohibits the possession of loaded or unloaded firearms, pistols, revolvers, or other deadly weapons within 100 feet of a polling place during federal, state, or municipal elections, with a few specific exceptions. The exceptions include law enforcement officers on duty, uniformed law enforcement officers voting, non-uniformed law enforcement officers with service weapons while voting, and individuals who secure an unloaded firearm in a motor vehicle while at the polling place. Violation of this prohibition would be considered a class A misdemeanor. To accommodate individuals who are unwilling or unable to comply with the firearm prohibition, the bill expands absentee voting eligibility to include those who cannot appear at their polling place due to the firearm restrictions. The absentee ballot application and affidavit forms are updated to include this new reason for voting by mail. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and while its fiscal impact is considered indeterminable, it may have implications for judicial and correctional systems due to the new criminal penalty.

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https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_status.aspx?lsr=0360&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB352