NH House Testimony

HB52

House · 2025 sessionDemocraticKilled in House

Legal holiday status for primaries

AI

Clarifies the legal effect of designating a day a legal holiday and designates the state primary day and the quadrennial presidential primary day as legal holidays.

relative to legal holidays.

ElectionsState Government

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 13, 2025
  1. Introduced
  2. House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Division of testimony

96 submissions
Support 93Oppose 3Neutral 0
Sara ClevelandSupportDover, NHfor MyselfFeb 12, 2025

Let’s celebrate democracy! It’s always confused me that Election Day isn’t a holiday. Free and open elections are a cornerstone of our democracy—something not everyone in the world has the privilege to experience. Making Election Day a holiday would turn voting into a unifying, communal event, strengthening civic pride. More importantly, it would give more people the opportunity to vote without the burden of work conflicts. Let’s make participation easier for all—please support this bill.

Corinne DodgeSupportDerry, NHfor MyselfFeb 12, 2025

Members of House Executive Department & Administration I strongly support HB52 (Establishing election day state holiday) and ask that you also support this bill. Many working NH citizens are not able to get to the polls in time to vote during their work day because of childcare responsibilities, non-traditional work hours or extra-long work hours. Creating an election day holiday would help to support NH democracy by assisting many citizens from both political parties to be able to vote. Corinne Dodge Derry, NH

Martha Mae EmersonSupportConcord, NHfor MyselfFeb 12, 2025

Election Day as a holiday will give more equal opportunity for citizens to vote. Isn't that what democracy is all about?

B WidgerSupportManch, NHfor Myself and my husbandFeb 12, 2025

To help encourage more civic engagement and reduce impediments to voting!

Ruth BenedictSupportAntrim, NHfor MyselfFeb 12, 2025

Currently, in many NH communities, the Supervisors of the Checklist will visit nursing homes and other elder care facilities, enabling residents to easily complete absentee ballots. This is a safe, efficient, and easy way for our communities' seniors to vote. Do not make it harder for our senior population to participate in voting!

Margaret KonzeSupportPembroke, NHfor MyselfFeb 12, 2025

Who would even oppose this? People who claim to love America should fully support this, why wouldn’t we want everyone to have an opportunity to engage with democracy? This is excellent, please please pass this bill. Especially since it seems some people are really upset about absentee ballots, this could alleviate some of the need for those absentee ballots. It seems like a win for both sides doesn’t it?

Marion NobleSupportAntrim, NHfor MyselfFeb 12, 2025

I support this Bill. The majority of NH Voters find that their busy lives, busy work schedules and busy family care schedules make it difficult to find the time to travel to voting locations between the established voting hours in order to vote. Transporting children to and from school, full-time in-home child care and elder care, and/or commuting long-distances to and from work make voting difficult. Having an Election Day holiday would help to ease stress and increase the likelihood that more NH residents would be able to vote.

Oliver MatteSupportNorth Sutton, NHfor MyselfFeb 12, 2025

Psilocybin has been studied and shown to have immense mental health benefits for those struggling with ailments such as severe depression and PTSD. We must support more avenues to help people live happier and more fulfilled lives.

Deborah LeavittSupportDover, NHfor MyselfFeb 12, 2025

I am an election worker who strongly supports measures that encourage higher levels of voter participation.

Thomas WestheimerSupportPeterborough, NHfor MyselfFeb 12, 2025

Let's make New Hampshire once again "First in the Nation and have a state holiday for voting" If we are serious about fair and inclusive elections, then we can show that by having a state holiday Thanks for listening Thomas Westheimer

John WillisSupportPeterborough, NHfor MyselfFeb 12, 2025

We need to do evrrything we can to encourage greater voter turnout. Genuine democracy depends on it.

Michael FraysseSupportEpsom, NHfor MyselfFeb 12, 2025

Please help voters find time to get to the polls on election day by Please establish an election day holiday tohelp voters find time to get to the polls on election day. Promote democracy.

Karen CampbellSupportEpsom, NHfor MyselfFeb 12, 2025

Please help voters find time to get to the polls on election day by establishing an election day holiday. I can't think of a better way to promote democracy.

Patricia WhitneySupportDover, NHfor MyselfFeb 12, 2025

What a great idea! There are so many people who don’t vote because their jobs restrict their ability to get to the polls. An election holiday would allow those people to exercise their right to vote.

Marion FitanidesSupportEpping, NHfor MyselfFeb 12, 2025

I support making these elections, a major holiday.

Matthew NolteSupportPortsmouth, NHfor MyselfFeb 12, 2025

Voting is a fundamental civic duty. We should support efforts to encourage more people to vote.

bruce berkSupportpittsfield, NHfor MyselfFeb 12, 2025

Lets eliminate Columbus Day and replace it with this day

NANCY SHERIDANSupportTamworth, NHfor MyselfFeb 12, 2025

What could be more democratic? Election day as a holiday to actually encourage people to exercise our civic duty! Vote yes!

Sandra LafleurSupportWilton, NHfor MyselfFeb 12, 2025

If ever there should be a Holiday it should be for this most important responsibility - VOTING!

Sarah McCarthySupportManchester, NHfor MyselfFeb 12, 2025

Dear Representatives, I urge you to SUPPORT this bill, which makes voting more accessible for residents by designating elections dates as legal holidays. Thank you for your time.

Ellin LeonardSupportConway, NHfor MyselfFeb 12, 2025

I believe the the more access to vote, the better off our state/ country will be.

Joline ManseauSupportHollis, NHfor MyselfFeb 12, 2025

I am retired, but prior to that I worked in the healthcare field with long hour days. With commuting added to my workday, it was difficult for me to get to the polls. I believe people are working harder and longer hours. By having an election day holiday, this would help voters get to the polls.

Michelle HulbertSupportPeterborough, NHfor MyselfFeb 12, 2025

YES! Let's make it easier for everyone to vote by making Election Day a holiday in our great state of NH.

Beth BenhamSupportNottingham, NHfor MyselfFeb 12, 2025

I believe in the importance of voting and making it easier, not harder, for eligible citizens to vote. Much of the rest of the country and the world has a holiday for voting day (or makes it much easier to vote absentee or early). We've seen in recent years how bad weather and a pandemic can wreak havoc with our opportunity to vote. Let's have more flexibility!

Karolyn CampbellSupportEpsom, NHfor MyselfFeb 12, 2025

Before I retired I so wanted Election Day to be a holiday so I did not have to take time away from work. It seemed so inconvenient, cumbersome to get to the polls before work and hope I could vote before commuting to my job. Several times I was unable to vote and had to return in the evening in order to cast my vote. Pain in the neck. I have no idea what the statistics will show making Election Day a holiday, but surely the turnout will increase.