Allows school districts to vote to adopt a partisan ballot system for electing school district officers, alongside the existing non-partisan system, and sets filing and ballot procedures for each option.
enabling school districts to adopt partisan school district elections.
HB356 would let school districts opt into partisan school board elections. The written submissions are overwhelmingly opposed, arguing that party politics has no place in local school governance, while a small number of submitters frame the bill as simply giving districts a choice.
A supporter argues the bill simply empowers school districts to choose the election system that best fits their community, with standardized procedures that improve clarity and accountability.
“This bill is an important step in empowering our school districts by providing them with the choice to adopt a partisan ballot system if they believe it will better serve their community’s needs.”
— Blossom Dodge, Concord · #482467 — read full submission →
“HB 356 offers local school districts the flexibility to choose between a partisan and a non-partisan election system.”
— Blossom Dodge, Concord · #482467 — read full submission →
Most opponents argue school boards should stay focused strictly on education and local school management, not party affiliation, and that introducing partisanship is unnecessary and inappropriate for this level of government.
“School boards have enough to do without dealing with party politics. The focus of school board members should strictly be to make the best decisions for their own schools”
— Rina Petit, Litchfield · #486893 — read full submission →
“It doesn't matter if a school board member is a republican, a democrat or an independent. They are running to support their local school district and public education. We do not need more politics in public education!”
— Carolyn Leite, Manchester · #482021 — read full submission →
“School board members should be non-partisan. Partisan Politics has no place at this level of local governance.”
— Mary Nichols, Loudon · #482460 — read full submission →
Opponents argue that adding partisanship to school elections would intensify the country's existing political divisions and pit neighbors against each other, distracting from education.
Some opponents contend the existing nonpartisan process for recruiting and electing school board members functions well and that there is no need to change a system that "isn't broken."
“Adopting partisan school district elections would cause significant and unnecessary harm to the process of recruiting and electing the best school board members.”
— Martha Jane Rich, Enfield · #484238 — read full submission →
“Right now, our school district candidates are chosen based on their experience, merits, and ties to the community. Voters are encouraged to get to know the candidates as individuals”
— Jacquelyn Benson, Kensington · #482598 — read full submission →
Opponents note New Hampshire has more undeclared voters than registered Republicans or Democrats, and argue partisan elections would discourage independent candidates and concentrate power in the two major parties.
“What happens to all the Undeclared registered voters ability to run for school board? There are 70,000 plus more Undeclared voters in New Hampshire than Republicans or Democrats.”
— Rina Petit, Litchfield · #486893 — read full submission →
“Focuses the election to two parties and attempts to consolidate power by party vs. others, more independent candidates.”
— Leigh Hutchinson, Derry · #485418 — read full submission →
A few submissions raise concerns about voter turnout and access, or characterize the bill as an attempt to rig election outcomes, with one submitter threatening a legal challenge.
“All representatives should be working to make voting to make voting easier for residents not harder. In Hudson we have a very low turnout for the March elections”
— Debra Putnam, Hudson · #486525 — read full submission →
“This is an obvious attempt to rig the outcome of elections for one group or the other and we will challenge it in court if it is approved.”
— Ken Steinberg, Nashua · #481371 — read full submission →
Generated by claude-sonnet-5 (claude code agent) on Jul 22, 2026. Quotes are verbatim excerpts, verified against the cited submission before publication. Summaries are AI interpretation of the record, not part of it.
This is not a bipartisan bill. We do not need partisan politics in our School Boards or Superintendents' offices. Party loyalty gets in the way of negotiation, compromise, and open communication. Vote Inexpedient to Legislate.
Please vote no for HB356. Party politics should stay at the national and state levels not local elections...especially not school board elections. School board members need to make the best decisions for their own schools without any consideration for party politics. New Hampshire needs to keep the goal to provide the best possible public education. It's alarming to see the convoluted partisan process HB356 would create for cooperative school districts. Please just vote HB356 Inexpedient to Legislate. Thank you.
Please vote HB356 Inexpedient to Legislate. School boards have enough to do without dealing with party politics. The focus of school board members should strictly be to make the best decisions for their own schools with the goal being providing the best possible public education for their students. And why would party caucuses be involved in screening cooperative school board candidates? What happens to all the Undeclared registered voters ability to run for school board? There are 70,000 plus more Undeclared voters in New Hampshire than Republicans or Democrats. Keep all school board elections nonpartisan.
It seems obvious that we would want something that is fair, impartial and will cut down on the ill will and chaos. We are living in a time where there is a fight or violence for almost everything. This is actually caused by people taking unfair advantage and those that are cheated wanting payback. I hope that we will start to move in a more fair impartial and peaceful direction.
I oppose HB 356. I don’t agree to having partisan school district elections. Keep things as they are.
This would negatively impact consumers and small businesses. I strongly oppose this bill.
Partisan politics have no place in our communities - especially in our schools. Communities and schools deserve to live free and be non-partisan. OPPOSE this bill. Ashley Desrochers
School boards should remain nonpartisan and locally focused.
I have been a Ballot Clerk since COVID hit in 2020. All representatives should be working to make voting to make voting easier for residents not harder. In Hudson we have a very low turnout for the March elections where important decisions are made about the future of our town. Many only vote at Primaries so making it harder to vote will effectively silence people’s voices. Going against the basic principles upon which the US Constitution was created.
We need less partisanship and divisiveness in our communities, not more. School boards should be elected to do what's best for their communities, not to represent a political party's platform.
School districts MUST remain non-partisan!!!!
With all due respect, it is a terrible idea to make school district elections partisan. Regardless of which side of the so-called "culture wars" you are on, the tables may turn at some point and you will be faced with a partisan political solution that you do not like. Let's keep the elections non-partisan.
Get rid of gerrymandering! It's un-American, and anti-democratic!
Do not let this pass. We do not need politics to be significant determiners of our school boards. We need people chosen based on their knowledge of schools, their interest in the position, and the things they bring to the tables. Political affiliation should not ever be on the table in this situation.
I do not support partisan school district elections. Partisan politics are already so divisive at a national and state level, and we do not need this cancer to further infiltrate our communities and hurt our schools.
HB356 isn't necessary especially when schools must be organized in a nonpartisan manner. New Hampshire's Education Commissioner Edelbutt will be or at should be ending his term this Spring. Partisanship doesn't have any place or need in New Hampshire schools. Please kill this bill or it should not move any further from the House Election Law Committee. The sponsors for this are all Republicans which is sad to read and I would want to believe Republicans support fairness.
This is an ill-advised and dangerous bill. Please vote against HB356. This bill would bring partisanship and national political considerations into what has long been local and non-partisan school board affairs and elections. There is no logical or defensible reason to upend local school board business and elections. PLEASE VOTE AGAINSTS HB 356. Thank you for your consideration.
It is much easier for elected board members to work together in non-partisan role.
School elections should be non-partisan. Keep it that way.
Non partisan all the way!
Party politics don't belong in our school board elections. The local focus and non-partisan nature of school board elections has served NH public schools well for many years. Introducing partisanship would be detrimental to our schools and communities.
School board positions should NEVER be partisan. Kill this bill!!
If you're not sure who you're voting for - simply do your homework on the candidates. Manchester has non-partisan elections. We research our candidates being either R or D and learn what they support and not support. Do your homework before you go into the voting booth.
Focuses the election to two parties and attempts to consolidate power by party vs. others, more independent candidates.
School boards should prioritize the needs of all students over party politics.