New Hampshire Senate Bill SB216

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/23/25
• Refer: 1/23/25
• Report DNP: 3/11/25

Caption

Relative to the authority of moderators on election day.

Summary

SB 216 revises New Hampshire law governing electioneering at polling places by clarifying and expanding the authority of election moderators on election day. The bill requires moderators to establish one or more no-electioneering corridors of at least 10 feet from polling place entrances, extending a reasonable distance along sidewalks or parking areas serving the polling place, while ensuring voters can enter and exit without interference and still approach campaigners if they choose. It also directs moderators to designate a preferred electioneering area, to the extent practical within sight and conversational range of the polling place entrance, subject to local ordinances and municipal regulations. The bill further states that electioneering may occur outside the no-electioneering corridor and outside the designated preferred area, but prohibits electioneering signs from being affixed to the polling place building or grounds. It also bars unattended signs while the polls are open, while allowing unattended signs in the electioneering area up to 24 hours before polls open, with “attended” defined as a candidate or volunteer being in reasonable proximity to the sign. The act would take effect 60 days after passage.

Impact

SB 216 would amend RSA 659:43, changing the rules that govern campaign activity at polling places and giving moderators explicit control over the placement and enforcement of electioneering corridors and preferred electioneering areas. The bill would affect candidates, campaign volunteers, voters, municipal election officials, and polling place operators by setting clearer boundaries for where political advocacy and signage may occur on election day and by limiting the placement of signs on polling place property.

Sentiment

The available record shows no committee transcript, vote tally, or recorded opposition, so the bill’s sentiment cannot be measured from formal debate or roll-call history. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears aimed at balancing voter access and orderly polling-place management with the ability of candidates and supporters to electioneer near the polls.

Contention

The main policy tension in SB 216 is between maintaining an orderly, interruption-free voting environment and preserving robust electioneering near polling places. Potential points of contention include the moderator’s discretion to establish corridors and preferred areas, the requirement that the preferred area be within sight and conversational range where practical, and the restriction on unattended signs. Municipalities may also be attentive to how the bill interacts with local ordinances and existing authority under RSA 31:41-c and RSA 47:17, XIV-a.