This bill amends the process for candidates filing for state representative in special elections by allowing them to file their candidacy with their town or city clerk for a period of 3 days. The current law, specifically RSA 655:81, III, is repealed and reenacted to include provisions that require the town or city clerk to forward each declaration of candidacy to the secretary of state on the same day it is filed. Additionally, if the clerk's office is not open for at least 3 days and for at least 2 hours on those days during the filing week, the clerk must provide contact information for an authorized election official who can accept the declarations.

The bill also mandates that the dates and times when town and city clerks' offices are open for filing, along with any additional contact information, be made available on the secretary of state's website. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage. The fiscal impact of this legislation is estimated to be less than $10,000 for each fiscal year from 2026 to 2029, as determined by the Legislative Budget Assistant.