NH House Testimony

HB600

House · 2025 sessionDemocraticKilled in House

Ranked-choice voting for towns

AI

Establishes procedures for ranked-choice voting, including ballot design, counting methods, and voter instructions, that municipalities may choose to adopt for their elections.

enabling ranked-choice voting for municipal elections.

ElectionsMunicipalities

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 26, 2025
  1. Introduced
  2. House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Division of testimony

738 submissions
Support 705Oppose 33Neutral 0

Argument digest · AI-generated

from 192 of 192 written submissions

HB600 would let New Hampshire municipalities opt in to ranked-choice voting (RCV) for local elections without mandating it statewide. The large majority of submitters support the bill, arguing RCV produces majority-backed winners, reduces vote-splitting and the spoiler effect, lessens polarization, and preserves local control since towns must affirmatively opt in. A smaller group opposes the bill, raising concerns about vote-counting complexity, auditability, administrative burden on clerks, and departure from traditional plurality voting.

Generated by claude-sonnet-5 (claude code agent) on Jul 20, 2026. Quotes are verbatim excerpts, verified against the cited submission before publication. Summaries are AI interpretation of the record, not part of it.

Mason BlissSupportPeterborough, NH, NHfor MyselfFeb 25, 2025

There is almost nothing we need in this nation more than ranked choice voting. Ranked choice voting rewards candidates whose platforms appeal to and best serve the public. Ranked choice voting removes the "vote out of fear" factor and lets us choose the candidate we most want. Ranked choice voting is not a partisan measure - it works for everyone equally, and it will make us a better nation. We need it up and down the ballot. Let's start with it here.

Leane GarlandSupportHanover, NHfor MyselfFeb 25, 2025

Rank-choice voting allows for more subtlety in the election of leadership positions. Instead of win/lose, with the losers feeling unrepresented and resentful, rank-choice voting allows people to feel that their vote counted, even if their candidate does not "win". Vote Ought to Pass.

Elven EalySupportLitchfield, NHfor MyselfFeb 25, 2025

ranked-choice voting will reduce extremists chances of winning and therefore will reduce partisanship in general. In general the cooler more thoughtful heads should prevail. This will help clarity and has improved things in places where it has been adopted.

mollie allenSupportExeter, NHfor MyselfFeb 25, 2025

I say yes to this bill allowing rank choice in municipal elections in New Hampshire.

Micheline HaganSupportBarrington, NHfor MyselfFeb 25, 2025

Please vote to support ranked-choice voting.

Amy AgostinoSupportLondonderry, NHfor MyselfFeb 25, 2025

Ranked choice voting is a really good tool for voters, and allows them to support third party candidates without "wasting" or "throwing away" their vote. It has worked well in Maine (and other places I couldn't name at the moment) And although opponents claim it is confusing, we use ranked choice all the time, without naming it as such: "When you go to the store, I would like chocolate chip ice cream. If they don't have that, I'd like coffee. If they don't have either of those, then vanilla is okay" I'm excited to see a RCV bill - please support it!

Lorna CarlisleSupportSalisbury, NHfor MyselfFeb 25, 2025

I think ranked-choice voting would benefit the public and also elect less extremist candidates on both ends of the spectrum

Holly CooperSupportConcord, NHfor MyselfFeb 25, 2025

If there are more than 2 candidates for the same office, and especially if there are many candidates, without ranked choice voting we can wind up with a candidate who does not have majority support.

Margaret KonzeSupportPembroke, NHfor MyselfFeb 25, 2025

I support this bill for all the reasons already mentioned, but specifically because it will reduce some of the toxic tribalism in politics. We shouldn’t be treating politics like a Super Bowl where you bet on the team you think is most likely to win, you should be able to choose the person who best represents you and the hopes you have for the society that you live in, and to also choose a 2nd choice, and 3rd, etc. Ranked Choice Voting makes everyone’s votes count, and this bill isn’t even mandating anything. Please pass this bill.

Jana SellaroleSupportWalpole, NHfor MyselfFeb 25, 2025

Get rid of gerrymandering! It's un-American, and anti-democratic!

Brandy HardimanSupportHAMPTON, NHfor MyselfFeb 25, 2025

I am supportive of Ranked Choice Voting as it will mean better choices, better campaigns, and better representation. Thank you.

Sue NastasiSupportDover, NHfor MyselfFeb 25, 2025

I and many others support this bill, HB600. It should be passed by an unanimous vote for New Hampshire's local elections. The bill details are very sensible. For anyone not familiar with ranked choice voting please read the details of https://www.nhrankedchoice.org/ . The bill is needed for fairness especially to be sure every single vote counts, the voters' voice was heard. As a quote from the above website "allowing you to vote your preference, not just who you think might win". Please support HB600 for the local New Hampshire elections. Every single level of government affects Granite Staters, from very local to presidential.

Heidi HamerOpposeMANCHESTER, NHfor MyselfFeb 25, 2025

No thank you !! ITL this bill in committee

Gary HamerOpposeMANCHESTER, NHfor MyselfFeb 25, 2025

No thank you!

Michelle Saint LorraineSupportConcord, NHfor MyselfFeb 25, 2025

I am in support of ranked choice voting. The two-party system is so corrupted, it must go. With ranked choice voting, it is less likely that a dictator wannabe and his boy Friday will be able to get into office and take control of our government. I strongly support this bill.

Erika MacDonaldSupportHollis, NHfor MyselfFeb 25, 2025

Please help fix this broken election system by allowing voters to rank their choice of candidates. This two party system we're currently using is part of the reason our society is so fractured. It requires all elections to be "us against them". Ranked choice voting allows for voters to vote for the person, not the party.

Paul PindrisSupportDeerfield, NHfor MyselfFeb 25, 2025

I believe ranked-choice voting provides assurance to all voters that winners of an election represent the broadest support among the electorate. It has been in place and widely supported in Maine and other places around the country, and demonstrated it's practicality and efficacy. I support this bill and strongly encourage all NH representatives to do so as well.

Elizabeth RoppSupportManchester, NHfor MyselfFeb 25, 2025

Dear House Election Law committee, Please support Rank Choice Voting for the State of New Hampshire. We are a purple state. Many people like to chose candidates more than they want to affiliate to a party. This bill will help support New Hampshire's Live Free or Die spirit. It will make our elections more interesting and it will allow more comraderies among the candidates and the voters. Sincerely, The Honorable Elizabeth Ropp

Stephen DowSupportSomersworth, NHfor MyselfFeb 25, 2025

I want to see ranked choice voting in NH since it provides a better means of casting and counting votes in which voters rank candidates in order of choice and counting proceeds in rounds pursuant to RSA 659:105, III to determine which candidate has a plurality of votes for an election

Carla FolkertSupportKeene, NHfor MyselfFeb 25, 2025

Please let our votes count

Janis SmithSupportPortsmouth, NHfor MyselfFeb 25, 2025

I approve

Susanne VealSupportRochester, NHfor MyselfFeb 25, 2025

I support HB600 because I believe ranked choice voting is the best way for voters to elect a candidate who has garnered a majority of the vote. I believe NH cities and towns should be permitted to choose the option of ranked choice voting in their election process.

Joanna AndrosSupportWalpole, NHfor MyselfFeb 25, 2025

I support this bill which allows ranked choice in municipal elections but does not require them.

Linda BundySupportAntrim, NHfor MyselfFeb 25, 2025

This bill gives towns and party caucuses the option to choose ranked choice voting at the municipal and party level. Ranked choice voting gives voters a broader choice of candidates and results in the election of candidates that are supported by a larger portion of voters. Using ranked choice voting at these levels can demonstrate to voters and candidates the benefits of this system. Please vote OTP on HB 600.

Linzee Coleman-BaggeSupportExeter, NHfor MyselfFeb 25, 2025

For the common good.