Bill > HB1223

This bill provides election moderators with the explicit authority to conduct a hand count of ballots to verify the accuracy of voting machine (tabulator) results. Specifically, the moderator can, at their sole discretion, perform a hand count of votes for any race in an election and compare that count to the machine-generated total. If the hand count differs from the machine count, the hand count will take precedence and be used to certify the election results for that race. The moderator must then report the discrepancy to the city or town clerk, providing detailed information including the machine-recorded vote total, hand-count total, both machine and hand-count election results, and the difference between these counts for affected candidates. The bill also requires that if hand-count results are used instead of machine results, these machine results must still be reported as an addendum to the election return forms. The new provisions will take effect 60 days after the bill's passage, and they aim to provide an additional layer of verification and transparency in the election process by allowing moderators to manually confirm vote tallies.

Government Affairs

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=1926&inflect=2