The bill, HB 481, proposes significant changes to the timing of state primary elections by moving the date from the second Tuesday in September to the second Tuesday in June of every even-numbered year. This change is reflected in the legal language of RSA 653:8, where "September" is deleted and "June" is inserted. Additionally, the bill modifies related provisions, including shifting the voter registration alteration session from the "Wednesday" before the primary to the "Friday" before the primary, and adjusting the candidate filing period from the "Wednesday" in June to the "Friday" in March. The bill also introduces gender-neutral language in various sections, replacing terms like "his" with "his or her" and "he" with "they."

Moreover, the bill outlines new deadlines for submitting nomination papers, moving the deadline from "Wednesday" to "Friday" for both the two weeks and five weeks prior to the primary elections. It specifies that nomination papers must be filed with the Secretary of State by 5:00 p.m. on the Friday one week before the primary. The timeline for the Ballot Law Commission's meetings is also adjusted, changing the meeting date from the third Thursday of September to the third Thursday of June in general election years. Additionally, the appointment period for election inspectors is modified, with the notification deadline now set between February 1 and April 30. These amendments aim to streamline the election process and ensure compliance with updated timelines, with the act set to take effect on January 1, 2028.

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, 655:16, 655:21, 655:26, 655:31, 655:32, 655:41, 655:43, 658:2