This bill proposes to amend the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated (RSA) by moving the state primary election date from September to June. Specifically, it modifies RSA 653:8 to state that the primary election will now occur on the second Tuesday in June of every even-numbered year, replacing the previous September date. Additionally, the bill alters the timing for voter registration sessions and the filing of nomination papers, changing references from June to March in several sections, including RSA 654:32, RSA 654:34, and RSA 655:14. The bill also adjusts the deadlines for filing nomination papers to 11 weeks before the state general election and requires certification of these papers by 5:00 p.m. on the Wednesday 12 weeks prior to the general election. New language is introduced to ensure that supervisors of the checklist hold necessary sessions for corrections before the candidate filing period.

The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and does not include any new funding or positions. The Department of State has indicated that the transition to the new primary date will not incur additional costs for training election officials or updating election materials. However, an extensive voter education outreach campaign will be necessary to inform the public about the date change, which may require additional funding, making the overall fiscal impact indeterminable. The bill does not specify funding sources or appropriations, and the estimated revenue impact for the upcoming fiscal years is projected to be $0.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 653:8, 654:32, 654:34, 655:14, 655:21, 655:26
As Amended by the Senate: 653:8, 654:32, 654:34, 655:14, 655:21, 655:26, 655:41, 655:43, 655:44, 654:27