NH House Testimony

HB1541

House · 2026 sessionRepublicanSigned into law

Secure ballot storage containers

AI

Requires the secretary of state to provide all voting precincts with secure containers for storing ballots.

requiring the secretary of state to provide all voting precincts with secure containers for storing ballots.

ElectionsState Government

Status

Signed into law · July 20, 2026
  1. Introduced
  2. House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Division of testimony

32 submissions
Support 29Oppose 2Neutral 1
Joan DargieOpposeMilford, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

The SOS defines how we seal the boxes they provide with the already cast ballots there have been no problems with storing of the boxes and I don't know of any report that ballots after having been cast have been tampered with. We had a pilot with the containers in Milford and if we had to have a plastic container in place of every cardboard box I am not sure where we would store all these containers. I believe that many town halls have space restrictions. Also, when we send the boxes for destruction we do not take the ballots out of the box we send the complete package for destruction now we would have to collect these plastic containers and put the ballots in different boxes for destruction. Also not sure how the tape and the labels work on the plastic containers. I feel that the boxes supplied by the SOS office work just fine and they are not taped with scotch tape they are taped with the same packing tape that is used to mail 75lb packages. This tape works fine and does not come off the red tape also works well as if it is peeled back shows that it has been tampered with. All of these provisions work fine as defined by the secretary of state.

Jack BotonisSupportEpsom, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

This seems like common sense for the security and safety of our voting rights.

Katie BotonisSupportEpsom, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

This seems like common sense for the security and safety of our voting rights.

Greg BotonisSupportEpsom, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

This seems like common sense for the security and safety of our voting rights.

David PlumleySupportDerry, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

I am for locked ballot boxes

Lisa BarrSupportDanville, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

Common sense here. Why would one NOT want safe secure boxes to store ballots?

Debra PlumleySupportDerry, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

To ensure all votes are being counted this is necessary.

Sherry YeatonNeutralEpsom, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

Please require and provide a safe storage space in all precincts for ballots.

DAVID COSTENBADERSupportGreenland, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

It is extremely important to have voters show ID & HAND COUNTING. It is essential to verify how many Absentee ballots are issued & how many remain with the town. It's critical to control both.. Thank you.

Melody CostenbaderSupportGreenland, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

To ensure election integrity, we would like to see IDs and hand counting. We also would like to see control of the absentee ballots how many are issued and also count the ones that did not get used to verify those absentee ballots.

Doug WilsonSupportGreenland, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

Please support this bill. We need to ensure that New Hampshire's ballot chain-of-custody is secure. and this bill serves that goal.

Patricia TseplaevSupportEpsom, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

I support this bill. It is important for the integrity of our election system.

Teresa BrooksSupportManchester, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

I am respectfully requesting that you support bill HB1541, for the following reasons: - It strengthens election integrity and chain of custody by ensuring all ballots are stored and transported in secure, tamper-evident containers statewide. - It creates uniform, professional standards across all precincts, reducing risk, confusion, and inconsistencies between towns and wards. - It uses existing federal HAVA funding and requires annual progress reporting, improving security without burdening NH taxpayers, all while ensuring transparency and accountability.

Hannah MeiselmanSupportManchester, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

Secure ballot storage is fundamental to election integrity and voter confidence.

tom lutherSupportclaremont, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

Greetings from Sullivan County YES. I like the idea of standardized containers and locking. Do you have locks and containers strong enough to resist a Fulton County Georgia Progressive Democrat?

Sarah Burke CohenSupportConcord, NHfor NHMAFeb 3, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Pamela HardersSupportManchester, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Leigh HutchinsonOpposeDerry, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Jesse MedeirosSupportPlainfield, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Deborah SumnerSupportJaffrey, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Anne-Marie O'NeilSupportWindham, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Rosina LisSupportStoddard, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Timothy LisSupportStoddard, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Timothy FinneySupportBridgewater, NHfor Myselfflagged non-germaneFeb 3, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Daniel RichardsonSupportNashua, NHfor MyselfFeb 3, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.