Trial run for two voting systems set for later this month

CONCORD - With the support of the New Hampshire Secretary of State, the towns of Hanover and Moultonborough will pilot ballot-counting devices produced by Election Systems & Software and VotingWorks, respectively, at their May 9 municipal elections.

These pilots are the latest that have been conditionally approved by the Ballot Law Commission as it moves toward approving one or more ballot-counting devices to replace New Hampshire's aging AccuVote machines, the Secretary of State's Office announced on Thursday.

During the May 9 elections, Hanover will use ballot-counting devices produced by ES&S while Moultonborough will use a VotingWorks device. Representatives from each company and Secretary of State staff will be onsite at both locations to assist.

In March 2023, the town of Winchester piloted an ES&S ballot-counting device at its municipal election. VotingWorks devices were also piloted in Ashland, Newington, and Woodstock during the General Election in November 2022. While post-election audit reports determined the ES&S and VotingWorks devices were successful, both vendors have since made improvements to their devices based on feedback from the Secretary of State's Office and the Ballot Law Commission.

After the elections, the Secretary of State will assist with onsite, public audits on the devices to ensure their accuracy. The audits are scheduled as follows:

May 10

12:00 p.m. Hanover - ES&S

Hanover Town Hall

41 South Main St.

Hanover, NH 03755

May 11

8:30 a.m. Moultonborough - VotingWorks

Moultonborough Town Hall

6 Holland St.

Moultonborough, NH 03254