Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2, 2024

CONTACT: press@securedemocracyusa.org

Election audit bill sails through New Hampshire legislature with bipartisan support

Post-election audits protect election integrity across 30+ states


Concord, N.H. – Earlier today, the New Hampshire House passed S.B. 489, a bill to establish post-election audits. Post-election audits allow local election officials to check that vote counting equipment functioned properly and locally-reported election outcomes are correct – that's why they're used in more than 30 states, including swing states such as Arizona, Georgia, and Pennsylvania.

Statement from Secure Democracy USA Director of Advocacy Diego Echeverri:

"Post-election audits will give New Hampshire voters an extra layer of confidence and transparency in the state’s election results. With support from Secretary of State Scanlon, election administrators from across the state, and election security experts, we urge Governor Sununu to strengthen election integrity and build trust in New Hampshire elections by signing this bipartisan bill into law.”

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND: 

Eighty-four percent of New Hampshire voters support post-election audits – including 77% of Democrats, 91% of Republicans, and 84% of undeclared voters – according to a November 2023 poll from Secure Democracy Foundation.

Other bills that would strengthen New Hampshire elections remain pending in both chambers of the state legislature:

  • S.B. 537: Authorizes local election officials to pre-process absentee ballots. This bill was passed via unanimous consent in the Senate on 4/5, and after exiting the House Election Law & Municipal Affairs Committee on Tuesday, it now heads to the House floor.

  • H.B. 463: Establishes an election information portal that will facilitate voter registration and absentee ballot requests. This bill passed the House on 1/3, and after receiving a hearing in the Senate Election Law Committee on 3/12, it awaits further committee action.

  • H.B. 1264: Requires cities, towns, and school districts to provide at least one accessible voting system for disabled voters at each polling place for local, state, and federal elections. Currently, such machines are only required for federal elections. This bill passed the House on 3/21, and after passing the Senate Election Law Committee on Tuesday, it now heads to the Senate floor.

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Secure Democracy USA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization that works to build confidence in our elections and improve voter access across the United States. We educate policymakers and the public about what it takes to safeguard our voting systems. We use sophisticated survey and messaging research to inform our strategy and we collaborate with state leaders, election administrators, policy  experts, and allies to ensure that all eligible citizens have the freedom to vote how they choose.