Bill > HB600

This bill enables municipalities in New Hampshire to adopt ranked-choice voting (RCV) for local elections, providing a comprehensive framework for how such voting would be implemented. Ranked-choice voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, rather than just selecting a single candidate. The bill defines key terms and establishes detailed procedures for counting votes, including a multi-round process where candidates with the fewest votes are progressively eliminated, and votes are redistributed based on voters' subsequent preferences. Municipalities can opt-in to ranked-choice voting by following specific procedures, such as holding a public hearing and obtaining voter approval through a ballot question. The bill mandates that ballots allow voters to rank at least 5 candidates in single-winner elections and provides guidelines for both single-winner and multi-winner election scenarios. It also requires the Secretary of State to create rules for implementation and establish transparent reporting mechanisms, including releasing preliminary and final round-by-round voting results. Notably, the bill allows individual municipalities to choose whether and for which offices they want to use ranked-choice voting, making it an optional, locally-driven process. The bill is set to take effect on August 1, 2025, and includes provisions for how political parties might also use ranked-choice voting in their caucus elections.

Government Affairs

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_status.aspx?lsr=0007&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB600