HB 599-FN is a legislative bill that calls for a comprehensive forensic audit of the election results from November 8, 2022, for the offices of Governor, U.S. Senate, and U.S. Congress in 15 selected towns in New Hampshire. The audit is designed to uncover any potential weaknesses in the election process and will examine aspects such as ballot handling, counting, machine software, and voter registration verification. The audit will be carried out by a third-party company, specifically excluding individuals who were involved in the election or any prior audits. If a discrepancy greater than 2% is found for any candidate, the audit will be extended to include additional audits in two larger counties, Rockingham or Hillsborough.

The bill details the creation of a forensic election audit team, the criteria for town selection, and the audit procedures, which emphasize public transparency and security. The audit team is responsible for recommending third-party audit companies to the executive committee for selection. The audit must be completed within three months after the bill becomes effective, and a report must be submitted within 45 days after the audit's completion. This report will be publicly available and distributed to various state officials. To finance the audit, the bill establishes an Election Audit Fund with an initial appropriation of $150,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and permits the acceptance of additional funding through gifts, grants, and donations. The bill is set to take effect upon its passage. The Department of State has noted that the audit will require robust security measures and that the costs and time required for completion are expected to be significantly higher than those of a previous, more limited audit.