Requiring an audit of ballots cast in the 2022 primary and general election.
Impact
The enactment of SB366 is likely to modify existing election procedures in New Hampshire. It sets forth specific requirements for the audit, including the selection of voting machines to be audited and the operations that will take place to verify the accuracy of the ballots. The legislation also allows the secretary of state to forego the general election audit if problems identified in the primary audit are not resolved timely. This could affect how elections are administered in the state in terms of preparing for election day and ensuring that any discrepancies can be investigated comprehensively.
Summary
Senate Bill 366, known as SB366, introduces a mandate for conducting audits of ballots cast in the 2022 state primary and general elections. The bill empowers the secretary of state to oversee the audit process, which includes procuring the necessary equipment that can efficiently scan and record ballot information, ensuring that the electoral process is transparent and accountable. By instituting these audits, the bill aims to build confidence in the electoral system, particularly after concerns about election integrity and the accuracy of voting processes have gained public attention.
Contention
Despite its goal of ensuring electoral integrity, the bill has sparked debate among legislators and the public. Notable points of contention include the potential costs associated with hiring personnel and procuring necessary equipment for the audits, estimated at between $50,000 and $100,000. Additionally, concerns have been raised regarding public access to the audit process, particularly around the selection of devices to be audited and ensuring that this process is free from bias. Critics might argue that the implementation details could still leave room for discrepancies if not addressed comprehensively during the audits.
Elections and Primaries; electors to cast physical absentee on-request ballots as an alternative to using other authorized means of casting in-person votes; authorize
AN ACT relating to elections; requiring the completion of a hand count by the county clerk of each county in the 2026 primary and general elections; specifying requirements of the hand count; requiring reporting; and providing for an effective date.
In county boards of elections, further providing for powers and duties of county boards; in datesof elections and primaries and special elections, providing for authorization of ranked choice voting in municipal elections; in nomination of candidates, further providing for which candidates nominated; in ballots, further providing for form of official primary ballot; in electronic voting systems, further providing for election day procedures and the process of voting; in preparation for and conduct of primaries and elections, further providing for method of marking ballots and depositing same in districts in which ballots are used and for count and return of votes in districts in which ballots are used; and, in returns of primaries and elections, further providing for persons receiving highest number of votes to be declared elected.
Reforms the organizational structure for the Department of Transportation and Development including its duties, powers, and responsibilities of officers and employees (EN INCREASE SD EX See Note)
A bill for an act providing for certain business entities acting under the jurisdiction of the secretary of state by providing for the removal of information from a filing based on a sworn affidavit and administrative dissolution based on the response to interrogatories.(See HF 2678.)