Committee advances amendment tightening electioneering rules for public employees, bans government surveys of candidates

The House Election Law Committee advanced a non‑germane amendment to House Bill 6 86 on electioneering by public employees, moving the measure toward a floor vote after a lengthy public hearing and debate.

Representative Barry, the sponsor of the amendment, told the committee the revised language removes a special intent‑based definition that applied to public employees and substitutes the standard election‑law definition found in RSA 6:52,16(h), which uses a “reasonable person” standard. "Instead of having a special ... definition for public employees, we're gonna use the standard definition," Barry said, and added the amendment also introduces a $1,000 fine as an alternative to misdemeanor prosecution and explicitly outlaws government political surveys of candidates.

Committee members and witnesses said the changes were intended to limit the use of official time and resources to influence elections. "The government should be running the election in a…