Senate conservatives are pushing a bill that would reallocate the state’s four electoral votes, splitting them up instead of allocating them completely to whichever candidate wins the popular vote.

In a pitch to more proportionally represent New Hampshire voters – and give Republicans a better chance at picking up electoral college votes in the state – Senate conservatives would have the Granite State follow in the footsteps of Nebraska and its neighbor, Maine.

Senate Bill 11 would reallocate New Hampshire’s four electoral votes so that two would stay at-large, and one would go to each of the two congressional districts.

“We’d like New Hampshire to remain the most engaged state,” said Sen. Bill Gannon. “We want the people to realize that when they speak on something and they vote on something, this will give their vote more meaning so they don’t feel they’re being overlooked.”

Gannon, a Republican from Sandown, and his bill are backed by six other senators and a House member, all Republicans. He told the Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee that it’s an effort to make sure voters are “accurately reflected” in the electoral college. It could also put New Hampshire back into play as a swing state. In recent elections, like in 2024 and 2016, Democrats’ margin of victory was minimal.

He also said it’d help New Hampshire keep its national importance with the First in the Nation primary, and keep candidates interested in visiting the state to compete for votes.

“Had President Trump thought that one vote was in play, he would have been here,” Gannon said. He added that the first congressional district, which can sometimes lean more Republican, could’ve gone to Trump if he’d had a reason to visit. 

Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, the Democratic Senate minority leader from Portsmouth, asked about political motivations behind the legislation. Republicans continue to win big in statewide elections, but Democrats tend to prevail in congressional and presidential elections.

Gannon doubled down that his primary goal is protecting voters, noting that in 2000, Democratic nominee Al Gore could’ve picked one up if New Hampshire had split its electoral college votes.

Several people testified in person, and dozens online, most in opposition to the bill. Liz Tentarelli, president of the League of Women Voters of New Hampshire, said that if enough states used this type of proportional voting, the presidential election could be more likely to go to the U.S. House of Representatives with a tie.

“Maybe that’s what you want. You want the final decision to go to the House of Representatives in Washington, maybe you don’t,” Tentarelli said. “I don’t like that idea.”

Charlotte Matherly is the statehouse reporter for the Concord Monitor and Monadnock Ledger-Transcript in partnership with Report for America. Follow her on X at @charmatherly, subscribe to her Capital Beat newsletter and send her an email at cmatherly@cmonitor.com.