Selectboard hears update on accessible voting changes, HB1264 coding fee and who will pay school ballot costs

At a Selectboard meeting, the town’s department head for elections discussed HB1264 and a statewide pilot program that will loan voting tablets for accessible voting, and explained a $600 per-ballot coding charge the state is assessing for ballot coding and per-ballot services.

Why it matters: The Selectboard members asked who will pay the $600 coding fee for the school-district portion of the ballot. The presenter said the state will require a separate $600 coding fee for the school district’s portion of the ballot and recommended the Selectboard contact the school district to ask it to cover that cost. A Selectboard member said it would be more “fair” for the school district to pay its own $600, noting both towns fund the district indirectly through appropriations.

Details: The presenter said the state’s pilot program will loan tablets this year and the state expects to help towns purchase permanent tabulators in 2026, but the machine cost, state funding availability and exact purchase price are not yet known. The state’s HB1264 was identified by name during the discussion; board members asked for clarity about who levied the fund and which entities pay the per-ballot charge. The presenter said the state of New Hampshire enacted HB1264 establishing the pilot.

Ending: The presenter said he would contact the school district to advise that the Selectboard expects the district to assume the separate $600 coding fee for school ballots. The board did not take a formal vote at the meeting on funding but directed staff to notify the district.