KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to New Hampshire

HB1266 • 2026

allowing election moderators access to the area designated for counting votes during the performance of their duties.

allowing election moderators access to the area designated for counting votes during the performance of their duties.

Elections
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Robert Harb (R)
Last action
2026-06-24
Official status
SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

allowing election moderators access to the area designated for counting votes during the performance of their duties.

allowing election moderators access to the area designated for counting votes during the performance of their duties.

What This Bill Does

  • allowing election moderators access to the area designated for counting votes during the performance of their duties.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-24 H

    Signed by Governor Ayotte 06/19/2026; Chapter 161; eff. 08/18/2026

  2. 2026-06-10 S

    Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14

  3. 2026-06-10 H

    Enrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15

  4. 2026-05-07 H

    House Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1324s (Rep. Berry): MA VV 05/07/2026 HJ 12

  5. 2026-04-10 S

    Committee Amendment #2026-1324s , AA, VV; 04/16/2026; SJ 9

  6. 2026-04-10 S

    Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1324s , MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/16/2026; SJ 9

  7. 2026-04-03 S

    Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1324s , 04/16/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 14

  8. 2026-03-25 S

    Hearing: 04/01/2026, Room 103, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 12

  9. 2026-03-17 S

    Introduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 7

  10. 2026-03-11 H

    Ought to Pass : MA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 22

  11. 2026-03-04 H

    Committee Report: Ought to Pass 03/03/2026 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 10 P. 14

  12. 2026-02-18 H

    Executive Session: 03/03/2026 10:00 am GP 158

  13. 2026-01-29 H

    Public Hearing: 02/03/2026 02:00 pm GP 158

  14. 2025-12-01 H

    Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Election Law HJ 1 P. 13

Official Summary Text

allowing election moderators access to the area designated for counting votes during the performance of their duties.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
CHAPTER 161
HB 1266 - FINAL VERSION

04/16/2026 1324s
2026 SESSION
26-2496
07/08

HOUSE BILL
1266

AN ACT
allowing election moderators access to the area designated for counting votes during the performance of their duties.

SPONSORS: Rep. Harb, Rock. 20

COMMITTEE: Election Law

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

ANALYSIS

This bill allows election moderators to access the area designated for counting votes during the performance of their duties.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in
bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [
in brackets and struckthrough.
]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
04/16/2026 1324s 26-2496
07/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT
allowing election moderators access to the area designated for counting votes during the performance of their duties.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

161:1 Elections; Counting of Votes; Disqualification of Officials. Amend RSA 659:58 to read as follows:
659:58 Disqualification of Officials. Any election official who is also a candidate for office, other than a position of an election official, shall not be allowed to remain in the area designated for the counting of votes within the guardrail during the counting of [
votes for an office for which he is a candidate
]
ballots for which he or she is a candidate for an office other than an election official
. Such official shall disqualify himself
or herself
from election duties relating to the tabulation of votes; and the moderator shall appoint an assistant who shall take the same oath as, serve in the same capacity as, and have all the powers of the election official who is disqualified until such official may properly return. The
election official, which includes the moderator, may be within the guard rails and perform other duties of their office, or other duties the
moderator may assign [
any
]
to the
election official disqualified pursuant to this section [
to other duties
]
,
not related to the tabulation of votes.

161:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Approved: June 19, 2026
Effective Date: August 18, 2026