2026 State Candidate Survey
Each election year Citizens Count sends an issue survey to every candidate for state and federal office in New Hampshire. We make every attempt to contact candidates by snail-mail, email, and phone. Candidate survey responses are the primary source for issue positions shown on the Citizens Count website. If a candidate does not respond to the Citizens Count survey, staff will search for candidate issue positions published in newspapers, posted on Facebook, etc.
The issues included in the survey are selected based on input from our online community, consultation with experts, and a review of legislation and candidate platforms. The list below shows questions included on the 2026 survey sent to candidates for state representative, state senator, and governor.
Broad-based income tax
Should NH add an income tax on earned income?
Interest and Dividends tax
Should New Hampshire reinstate the interest and dividends tax?
Business tax decrease
Should New Hampshire lower business taxes?
Majority of public school funding through local property taxes
Do you support New Hampshire’s current system of public school funding, with about two-thirds of total funding coming from local property taxes?
Public school open enrollment with limits
Should New Hampshire allow at least 10% of students in each school district to enroll in a different public school, regardless of where they live?
"Education Freedom Account" program
School district tax cap mandate
Should state law cap how much local school districts can increase their budget each year?
Encourage local zoning changes for housing development
Expand net metering opportunities
Do you support legislation to expand the net energy metering system capacity cap from 1 MW to 5 MW for all residential and commercial customers in New Hampshire?
Encourage nuclear development
Should New Hampshire do more to encourage the development of nuclear power, including small modular reactors (SMR), in the state?
Stricter gun laws
Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?
Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by allowing home-growing and private use without sales?
Marijuana legalization with private sales
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by licensing growers and private retail locations?
Marijuana legalization with state-run stores
Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks
Should New Hampshire repeal the ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation?
Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks
Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?
Ban abortion during 2nd trimester
Ban abortion during 1st trimester
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the first trimester (e.g. after 6 weeks gestation)?
Allow segregation based on biological sex
Should New Hampshire’s anti-discrimination law allow segregation based on biological sex in some settings, such as bathrooms and locker rooms?
Fund the Office of the Child Advocate
Should New Hampshire restore funding for the Office of the Child Advocate?
Proof of citizenship for newly registered voters
Should New Hampshire require new voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport, when registering to vote?
