Election Law

Chairman: Ross Berry
VChairman: James Qualey
Clerk: Claudine Burnham
Committee Asst: Robin Bach
Researcher: Davis Allen
Location: GP Room 158
Phone: 603-271-3369

There are 73 bills originally referred to this committee

Title: relating to voting eligibility. Providing that only legal resident citizens who are at least 18 years of age or older who reside in the place they claim as a domicile shall be eligible voters.
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Next/Last Hearing:
HOUSE
MISCELLANEOUS

01/28/2025 02:40 PM
Title: relating to qualifications for office. Providing that candidates of the office of governor, state senator, and state representative shall be citizens of the United States.
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HOUSE
MISCELLANEOUS

01/27/2026 11:00 AM
Title: (New Title) voting eligibility.
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HOUSE
MISCELLANEOUS

01/27/2026 11:20 AM
Title: relating to the public utilities commissioners. Providing that the public utilities commissioners are elected.
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HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

02/17/2026 10:00 AM
Title: relating to ballot reconciliation. Providing that the state adopt certain provisions and penalties relative to the ballot reconciliation process.
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HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

02/03/2026 02:40 PM
Title: (New Title) requiring the secretary of state to review absentee ballot data biennially, forward certain requests to the election law unit for review, and make a report to the general court.
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PASSED
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED
02/04/2025 11:00 AM
Title: requiring electronic voter checklists to be supplied in a sortable format.
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PASSED
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED
02/18/2025 11:00 AM
Title: regarding domicile qualifications for voting.
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HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

02/11/2025 10:50 AM
Title: (New Title) allowing a supervisor of the checklist to verify a person's identity, with identification, if they personally know that person.
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PASSED
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED
02/18/2025 03:20 PM
Title: requiring the presentation of a government-issued photographic means of identification in order to vote.
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SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
PASSED/ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT
PASSED/ADOPTED
02/11/2025 10:30 AM
Title: relative to electioneering by public employees.
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PASSED
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED
01/21/2025 11:00 AM
Title: requiring the secretary of state to check voter records prior to every election.
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HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

02/18/2025 10:40 AM
Title: relative to proof of United States citizenship for indigent voters.
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SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
PASSED/ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT
PASSED/ADOPTED
02/11/2025 01:00 PM
Title: relative to the composition of the board of recount in elections for the select board and for the school board.
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SENATE
PASSED/ADOPTED
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE
03/04/2025 10:00 AM
Title: (New Title) relative to the state primary date.
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SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
CONCURRED
PASSED/ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT
02/25/2025 11:00 AM
Title: relative to cooperative school district school board elections.
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SENATE
PASSED/ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE
02/25/2025 10:20 AM
Title: (New Title) prohibiting certain public entities from conducting or sponsoring political surveys, polls, or questionnaires in their official capacities.
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SENATE
PASSED/ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT
INTERIM STUDY
09/16/2025 10:00 AM
Title: relative to ballot counting procedures and permitting the hand counting of ballots.
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HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

02/18/2025 02:30 PM
Title: enabling candidates for state office to use campaign funds to pay for security measures.
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PASSED
CONCURRED
PASSED/ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT
01/20/2026 01:40 PM
Title: authorizing the secretary of state to conduct random audits of the citizenship qualification of registered voters.
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PASSED
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED
02/03/2026 01:40 PM
Title: enabling municipalities and school districts to hold such elections on the day of the state primary.
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HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

02/17/2026 10:40 AM
Title: requiring political committees to certify with the secretary of state whether they have, or anticipate having, less than $1,000 in receipts or expenditures in an election cycle.
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HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

01/20/2026 01:50 PM
Title: enabling municipalities to remove political signs from state-owned property located within the municipality after an election.
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HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

02/03/2026 10:20 AM
Title: requiring the disclosure of the source of certain political donations in state elections.
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HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

01/20/2026 02:15 PM
Title: requiring the public disclosure of the citizenship of a candidate for public office.
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HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

01/27/2026 11:40 AM
Title: enabling school districts to adopt partisan school district elections.
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SENATE
PASSED/ADOPTED
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE
02/17/2026 10:20 AM
Title: requiring the secretary of state to create and maintain a uniform election records management system.
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HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

01/20/2026 10:45 AM
Title: relative to the time in which candidates for state representative may file their candidacy for a special election.
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PASSED
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED
02/03/2026 01:20 PM
Title: requiring certain political committees to disclose the identity of their donors.
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HOUSE
MISCELLANEOUS

01/20/2026 02:30 PM
Title: relative to the moderator's authority to verify the device count during an election.
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HOUSE
MISCELLANEOUS

02/03/2026 01:00 PM
Title: identifying certain school district offices as incompatible for purposes of school district elections.
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PASSED
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED
02/17/2026 11:00 AM
Title: requiring the secretary of state to create, post on the secretary of state's website, and otherwise distribute notice of proposed constitutional amendments.
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SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
PASSED/ADOPTED
PASSED/ADOPTED
02/03/2026 02:20 PM
Title: removing the requirement of more evidence than a campaign contribution to demonstrate that a vote, appointment or nomination was a corrupt practice.
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HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

01/27/2026 01:20 PM
Title: requiring that candidates for state representative and state senator live in the district for which they seek election for at least 2 years.
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HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

02/03/2026 10:00 AM
Title: allowing election moderators access to the area designated for counting votes during the performance of their duties.
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HOUSE
CONCURRED
PASSED/ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT
02/03/2026 02:00 PM
Title: (New Title) providing an option for each candidate's party affiliations to be printed on the town or school district ballot.
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SENATE
PASSED/ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE
02/17/2026 11:20 AM
Title: relative to proof of identification on absentee ballot applications.
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HOUSE
MISCELLANEOUS

02/10/2026 11:40 AM
Title: requiring the inclusion of a voter's year of birth on the voter checklist.
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HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

01/20/2026 11:00 AM
Title: relative to the disposal of electronic ballot counting device external memory devices.
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HOUSE
CONCURRED
PASSED/ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT
02/03/2026 03:00 PM
Title: (Second New Title) establishing a school district local tax cap question for the state general election of 2026 and related limitations on central office administrative expenses in school districts.
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PASSED
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED
01/20/2026 10:15 AM
Title: relative to the counting of absentee ballots.
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PASSED
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED
01/27/2026 02:00 PM
Title: enabling supervisors of the checklist to correct the checklist on any day of the week.
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SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
PASSED/ADOPTED
PASSED/ADOPTED
02/03/2026 10:40 AM
Title: relative to special elections.
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Next/Last Hearing:
HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

02/03/2026 11:40 AM
Title: requiring the secretary of state to add voters' ages to the voter file.
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HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

01/20/2026 11:10 AM
Title: allowing all registered voters to vote in state and presidential primaries regardless of declared party affiliation.
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HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

02/10/2026 11:00 AM
Title: restricting access to certain information relative to voters subject to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.
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HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

01/20/2026 11:45 AM
Title: extending the time of the party filing period.
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PASSED
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED
02/03/2026 11:20 AM
Title: relative to proof of citizenship for overseas voters voting under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.
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Next/Last Hearing:
HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

01/27/2026 10:40 AM
Title: relative to the form of ballot for amendments to the constitution.
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PASSED
PASSED/ADOPTED
PASSED/ADOPTED
02/10/2026 11:20 AM
Title: establishing a commission to study the implementation of a single ballot primary election.
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HOUSE
MISCELLANEOUS

02/10/2026 10:40 AM
Title: relative to vacancies in state offices.
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Next/Last Hearing:
HOUSE
LAID ON TABLE

01/27/2026 01:00 PM
Title: setting a minimum affirmative vote for new or expanded spending for SB 2 towns.
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Next/Last Hearing:
HOUSE
LAID ON TABLE

02/17/2026 11:40 AM
Title: relative to the of hand-counting ballots at large polling places.
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Next/Last Hearing:
HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

01/27/2026 02:20 PM
Title: relative to election law complaints.
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Next/Last Hearing:
HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

01/27/2026 01:40 PM
Title: creating an independent commission to propose redistricting maps for the legislature to consider.
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HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

01/20/2026 10:20 AM
Title: defining citizenship for the purposes of voting.
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Next/Last Hearing:
HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

01/27/2026 10:20 AM
Title: requiring the secretary of state to provide all voting precincts with secure containers for storing ballots.
General Status:
House Status:
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Next/Last Hearing:
PASSED
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED
02/03/2026 03:20 PM
Title: (New Title) relative to access to the centralized voter registration database on election days.
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House Status:
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Next/Last Hearing:
SENATE
PASSED/ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT
LAID ON TABLE
01/20/2026 01:20 PM
Title: requiring the secretary of state to create a voter education program that includes information on recent changes to voting laws.
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Next/Last Hearing:
SENATE
PASSED/ADOPTED
INTERIM STUDY
02/10/2026 10:20 AM
Title: requiring suitable public facilities such as schools and town halls be made available as polling places upon request by local election officials.
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Next/Last Hearing:
SENATE
PASSED/ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT
INTERIM STUDY
02/03/2026 11:00 AM
Title: creating a single primary ballot.
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Next/Last Hearing:
HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

01/27/2026 10:00 AM
Title: establishing the first-in-the-nation security task force to coordinate planning for presidential campaign events.
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House Status:
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Next/Last Hearing:
SENATE
PASSED/ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE
02/10/2026 10:00 AM
Title: requiring the secretary of state to accept voter registration forms directly from voters and to create an online portal for direct voter registration.
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Next/Last Hearing:
HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

01/20/2026 01:00 PM
Title: (New Title) preventing any guide or explanation regarding the effect of a proposed constitutional amendment from appearing on the ballot.
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House Status:
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Next/Last Hearing:
SENATE
PASSED/ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT
INTERIM STUDY
01/27/2026 02:40 PM
Title: exempting certain information collected from electronic ballot counting devices from right-to-know law restrictions.
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House Status:
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Next/Last Hearing:
HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

01/27/2026 03:00 PM
Title: establishing a voter-owned elections fund and commission and raising vehicle registration fees.
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House Status:
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Next/Last Hearing:
HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

01/20/2026 02:45 PM
Title: relative to hand counts of ballots in elections.
General Status:
House Status:
Senate Status:
Next/Last Hearing:
HOUSE
INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE
PASSED/ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT
04/22/2025 10:00 AM
Title: (New Title) 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.
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House Status:
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Next/Last Hearing:
SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
PASSED/ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT
CONCURRED
04/22/2025 11:20 AM
Title: (Second New Title) relative valid photo identification for purposes of obtaining a ballot and relative to the production of lists of certain schools of higher education.
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House Status:
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Next/Last Hearing:
PASSED
PASSED/ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT
CONCURRED
03/31/2026 10:00 AM
Title: relative to amounts reported by political committees.
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House Status:
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Next/Last Hearing:
PASSED
PASSED/ADOPTED
PASSED/ADOPTED
03/31/2026 10:20 AM
Title: (Second New Title) relative to access to the centralized voter registration database on election days.
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House Status:
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Next/Last Hearing:
PASSED
PASSED/ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT
CONCURRED
03/31/2026 10:40 AM
Title: (New Title) relative to compliance with certain political expenditures and contribution statutes.
General Status:
House Status:
Senate Status:
Next/Last Hearing:
SENATE
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED
03/31/2026 11:00 AM
Title: relative to photo identification cards issued solely for the purpose of voting.
General Status:
House Status:
Senate Status:
Next/Last Hearing:
PASSED
PASSED/ADOPTED
PASSED/ADOPTED
03/31/2026 11:20 AM