This bill amends existing election laws to allow election moderators and other officials to access the area designated for counting votes while performing their duties. Specifically, it modifies RSA 659:58 regarding the disqualification of election officials who are also candidates for office. The new language clarifies that such officials are prohibited from being in the counting area only for ballots related to the office they are running for, while still permitting them to perform other duties assigned by the moderator within the guardrails.

Additionally, the bill introduces language that requires disqualified officials to disqualify themselves from tabulating votes and appoints an assistant to take over their duties. The amendments also ensure that the disqualified election official, including the moderator, can remain in the counting area to perform other non-tabulation-related tasks. The bill will take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 659:58
As Amended by the Senate: 659:58
HB1266 text: 659:58