HB 474 (2025): requiring a second witness at the counting of write-in votes.
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- “HB 474 (2025): requiring a second witness at the counting of write-in votes.” Granite Record, https://graniterecord.org/bill/2025/hb474. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.
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- Granite Record. (n.d.). HB 474 (2025): requiring a second witness at the counting of write-in votes. Retrieved 19 Oct. 2026, from https://graniterecord.org/bill/2025/hb474
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- Granite Record. “HB 474 (2025): requiring a second witness at the counting of write-in votes.” Accessed 19 Oct. 2026. https://graniterecord.org/bill/2025/hb474.
- BibTeX
@misc{bill-2025-hb474, title = {HB 474 (2025): requiring a second witness at the counting of write-in votes.}, howpublished = {Granite Record}, url = {https://graniterecord.org/bill/2025/hb474}, note = {Accessed 19 Oct. 2026} }
HB 474 (2025)
requiring a second witness at the counting of write-in votes.
- Status: Signed into law
- Term: 2025-2026
- House committee: Election Law
- Senate committee: Election Law and Municipal Affairs
- Subject: Elections
- Chapter law: 65
The Story
It was introduced on January 9, 2025 and referred to the House Election Law committee. The committee held a public hearing on January 28, 2025, with 13 people signed in online: 7 in support and 6 in opposition. The committee met in executive session on February 4, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2025-0216h), and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 10–7. The report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee's amendment (2025-0216h) was adopted on a voice vote on March 20, 2025, changing the text of the bill. On March 20, 2025 the House voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote. It crossed to the Senate on March 20, 2025 and was referred to the Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs committee. The committee held a public hearing on April 15, 2025. The committee voted unanimously, 4–0, to recommend that the Senate pass it, and the report was placed on the consent calendar. On May 1, 2025 the Senate voted to pass it on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. The bill was enrolled on May 22, 2025 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor. The governor signed it on June 2, 2025, making it Chapter 65 of the session laws.
Sponsors
- Rep. Claudine Burnham (R - Straf 2) (prime sponsor)
- Rep. Glenn Bailey (R - Straf 2)
- Rep. Robert Wherry (R - Hills 13)
- Rep. Clayton Wood (R - Merr 13)
Hearings and Sessions
- January 28, 2025, 1:30 PM: public hearing, House Election Law, LOB 306-308
- February 4, 2025, 10:10 AM: executive session, House Election Law, LOB 306-308
- March 20, 2025: floor debate, House
- April 15, 2025, 10:00 AM: hearing, Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs, LOB 103
- May 1, 2025: consent calendar, Senate
Votes
- March 20, 2025, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-0216h — voice vote, passed
- May 1, 2025, Senate: Ought to Pass — voice vote, passed
The Docket
- January 9, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Election Law
- January 28, 2025: Public Hearing: 01/28/2025 01:30 pm LOB 306-308
- February 4, 2025: Executive Session: 02/04/2025 10:10 am LOB 306-308
- February 4, 2025: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0216h 02/04/2025 (Vote 10-7; RC)
- February 6, 2025: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
- March 20, 2025: Amendment # 2025-0216h: AA VV 03/20/2025
- March 20, 2025: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-0216h: MA VV 03/20/2025
- March 20, 2025: Introduced 03/20/2025 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs
- April 15, 2025: Hearing: 04/15/2025, Room 103, LOB, 10:00 am
- May 1, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 05/01/2025; Vote 4-0; CC
- May 1, 2025: Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/01/2025
- May 22, 2025: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/22/2025)
- May 22, 2025: Enrolled (in recess of) 05/22/2025
- June 2, 2025: Signed by Governor Ayotte 06/02/2025; Chapter 65; eff.08/01/2025