Hooksett election moderator reports smooth tabulation despite a machine failure; turnout 2,133

HooksettTown Moderator and election staff gave the Town Council a summary of the March election on March 12, reporting total turnout of 2,133 voters, a machine failure that was addressed quickly, and a plan to purchase new tabulators.

Moderator and election officials said voter turnout was high for a local election, with total tabulation and hand count yielding 2,133 votes. They said long ballots and multiple articles caused some voters to take 10–30 minutes in voting booths, which produced intermittent congestion at peak periods. One tabulator experienced a mechanical failure in the afternoon; the vendor supplied a replacement unit within about 35 minutes, which election staff said was provided under existing service arrangements and did not increase costs to the town.

Officials said the majority of voters appeared to be older than 55 based on observed undervote patterns and other metrics; election staff reported approximately 1,100–1,200 undervotes on some contests and about 17 newly registered voters processed at the polls, bringing Hooksettregistration to approximately 10,736.

Moderator and administrators said the town budgeted for new machines this year and planned to order two additional image-based tabulators; staff noted the newer image-based tabulators run slower than the older equipment and the town may want more than two machines to avoid congestion on high-ballot elections. Election staff thanked volunteer teams and said the day was otherwise civil and orderly.

Councilors thanked the moderator and election staff for managing the logistics and for the quick vendor response when a machine required replacement.

No council vote was required on the report; staff said they would proceed with procurement of new machines according to the budget and board of elections schedule.