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A conservative N.H. group is trying to ban voting machines in 22 towns – The Boston Globe

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A conservative N.H. group is trying to ban voting machines in 22 towns – The Boston Globe


Members of the group believe machine counts are “hackable” and encouraged residents from around the state to gather the 25 signatures required to put a warrant article on their town’s agenda.

They insist hand counting is more transparent and accurate, although research shows the opposite is true, including a 2012 study from New Hampshire and a 2018 study in Wisconsin.

While the far right and conspiracy theorists have taken up calls for hand counting in recent years, experts warn it’s a bad idea and research has found machine counts to be more accurate than hand counting, which can introduce human error.

Voting rights groups in New Hampshire are opposing efforts to ban voting machines, which they said would detract from the safety and efficiency of elections and place a burden on local election officials.

“We know that the equipment is trustworthy,” said McKenzie St. Germain, campaign director at the New Hampshire Voting Rights Campaign. She said previous efforts to ban voting machines at town meetings began after the 2020 election, although they have been unsuccessful in prior years.

“If we were to remove machines from especially these larger towns, and move entirely to hand counting, we are getting rid of equipment that is accurate and trustworthy and instead moving to a process that has more room for potential error,” she said.

It’s up to each community to decide whether to continue allowing the use of machines or to ban them and require hand counts. There are 103 towns that hand count, and 135 that use machines, according to data compiled in 2022 from the New Hampshire Voting Rights Campaign.

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The New Hampshire Patriot Hub is a conservative, faith-oriented group that focuses on liberty and the constitution.

While the group said its efforts are bipartisan, on its Facebook page members share their support of Donald Trump and events including one on Jan. 6, 2024 called “J6 – It could happen to you” to show support for those charged and imprisoned related to the Jan. 6. 2021, attack on the Capitol.

In an April Facebook post, the group announced that Brenda Towne would lead an initiative on election integrity, an issue she took up following the 2020 election. Towne did not return a request for comment on this story.

On her LinkedIn profile, Towne lists her job as an independent director for Web Industries, a company based in Marlborough, Mass. A visit to orphanages in India reportedly inspired her to fund an orphanage, work she told Foster’s Daily Democrat in 2017 would “honor God,” after she grew dissatisfied with her corporate job.

One of the initiative’s main goals, according to the group’s website, was to remove ballot counting devices and instead create local teams that would hand count ballots. “Voting Machines must go!” a call to action on the website read. “Hand count with secured paper ballots only!”

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In a Jan. 26 blog post, the group laid out its strategy to recruit residents from around the state by targeting over 50 towns and aiming for each town to receive the 25 resident signatures required to add a warrant article to the town meeting ballot.

The group hoped to leverage the support of Mike Lindell — CEO of MyPillow who has prominently promoted false claims the 2020 election was stolen — to energize New Hampshire voters and get the word out.

The group also put forward the language that now appears on many of the town’s warrant articles: “‘All voting shall be hand counted only, rather than by use of optical scanning or any other types of programmable electronic counting devices.’”

It goes on to state that, if approved, towns will immediately stop using all electronic voting machines.

“Enjoy this moment because I truly believe we are making history,” Towne said during an online March 7 training. “Imagine if we’re successful in New Hampshire and we start rolling these towns to hand count towns and removing the machines. It is truly the shot heard around the world.”

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She directed people to removethemachinesnh.com, another website promoting a ban on machine counting devices.

The Globe verified that in at least 22 towns, petition efforts successfully gathered the 25 signatures of local residents required to put language proposing a ban on the town meeting agenda. The warrant articles require a simple majority in order to pass, although in several towns, including Campton, Sandown, and Newington, among others, the selectmen registered their opposition to the effort.

Walpole is among the 22 towns where residents will vote on whether to ban voting machines. The town has been using AccuVote machines since 2014, according to town officials.

Meghan Hansson, the town clerk, said the effort to ban voting machines came as a surprise.

“This is just totally new,” she said. “We had no idea the petition warrant was going to be submitted until the day before (the deadline).”

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She said there have never been any issues using the voting machines, and complaints haven’t been brought to her attention. Without them, Hansson said she foresees issues related to human error and she said it could be hard to recruit enough people to help hand count.

The town has budgeted money to purchase a new machine, as the AccuVote machines approach the end of their useful life, according to Hansson. As the state begins transitioning to new machines, the company that services AccuVote machines, LHS Associates, has warned it cannot guarantee the machines will work through 2024, as there are limited available parts. That purchase will now have to wait until after the town decides if it is banning voting machines or not, according to Hansson.

Sarah Downing, Walpole’s town administrator, said she verified that all those who signed the petition were Walpole residents.

Here are the towns the Globe has confirmed are considering a ban on voting machines. While many towns hold voting on March 12 for town meeting day, other votes, like petitioned articles, are often held on second date, listed below.

March 12

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1. Fitzwilliam, article 29 2. Lincoln, article 31 3. Milan, article 9 (The selectman’s office confirmed the town will vote on a possible ban. No link is included because the town does not put its warrant online.) 4. Sandown, article 19 5. Woodstock, article 24

March 13

6. Brookline, article 29 7. Campton, article 8 8. Meredith, article 20 9. Newbury, article 11 10. Tamworth, article 35 11. Ossipee, article 40 12. Plymouth, article 10

March 16

13. Brentwood, article 13 14. Bristol article 9 15. Hollis, article 17 16. Loudon, article 20 17. Newington, article 15 18. Strafford, article 33 19. Stratham, article 15 20. Walpole, article 12 21. Madison, article 28

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March 21

22. Hopkinton/Contoocook, article 14


Amanda Gokee can be reached at amanda.gokee@globe.com. Follow her @amanda_gokee.





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New Hampshire

Pakistan hosts diplomatic discussions on ending war

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Pakistan hosts diplomatic discussions on ending war


Foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt will meet in Islamabad today in an attempt to come up with a plan to de-escalate the Iran war.

The meeting comes as several thousand more U.S. troops arrived in the region and after another group got involved in the expanding conflict: Yemen’s Houthis.

The Iran-backed Houthis launched missiles towards Israel, and there’s concern their involvement could threaten another vital global shipping lane in the Red Sea.

Here are more updates on day 30 of the Iran war.

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Diplomacy Push in Pakistan

The four foreign ministers from regional powers will meet in Islamabad today and Monday for a push towards diplomacy to end the war.

In a statement ahead of the meeting, the Egyptian government said: “Discussions are expected to focus on recent developments related to regional military escalation and ongoing diplomatic efforts to contain tensions and promote de-escalation.”

“The talks come amid heightened concerns about regional stability, with participating countries seeking to coordinate their stances and support political solutions to emerging crises,” it added.

Whether whatever consensus the countries known as “the quad” come up with will be accepted by the US, Israel, and Iran is another question.

Pakistan has emerged as a possible peace-broker in the conflict, passing messages between the U.S. and Tehran. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Saturday that “dialogue, diplomacy, and such confidence-building measures are the only way forward.”

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Dar also welcomed the fact Iran has agreed to allow 20 Pakistan-flagged ships – or two a day – through the Strait of Hormuz.

Houthis enter war

Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen launched the first missile they have fired since the war began toward Israel on Saturday. Israel’s military successfully intercepted it but the Houthis’ attack opens another front in a war that has now moved into its second month.

Up until Saturday’s missile launch the Houthis had stayed out of this war. But a Houthi spokesman said attacks will continue until “the aggression on all resistance fronts stops.”

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs / AP

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AP

In this photo released by the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, left, meets with his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar in Islamabad, Pakistan, Sunday, March 29, 2026.

The Yemen-based rebels were active during Israel’s war in Gaza, firing on cargo ships in the Red Sea and disrupting global commercial traffic.

With Iran essentially blockading the Strait of Hormuz, driving up global oil prices, there are concerns that if the Houthis start attacking ships in the Red Sea again global shipping will be even more disrupted.

Iran also hit multiple sites around Tel Aviv and Jerusalem Saturday and Israel’s military says Iran is increasingly using cluster bombs.

Designed to detonate at high altitude the munition disperses dozens of smaller bombs that are more challenging for Israel’s multi-layered air defense system to intercept and can cause damage over a wider area.

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Dozens of countries have signed onto a cluster munitions treaty banning the weapons – except Iran, Israel and the U.S.

Iran threatens U.S. universities in region

Iranian authorities and residents say more airstrikes hit them overnight. Social media videos from across Iran showed strikes hitting all over the country.

Israel’s military said it had completed what it called a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting weapons production and storage sites.

Iran claims U.S.-Israeli strikes hit a Tehran university over the weekend and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps threatened American university campuses in the Middle East in retaliation.

“We advise all employees, professors, and students of American universities in the region and residents of their surrounding areas” to stay a kilometer away from campuses, the statement, carried by Iranian media, said.

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Several US universities have campuses in the Gulf, including New York University in the United Arab Emirates and Texas A&M University, among others, in Qatar.

Meanwhile, Iran continues to fire drones and missiles at Gulf countries, with Kuwait saying it was intercepting missile and drone attacks early Sunday. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted and destroyed ten drones.

Iran also claimed it had attacked two major aluminium sites in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Emirates Global Aluminium confirmed an Iranian attack wounded several and caused significant damage to its plant.

U.S. Troops injured, more arrive

At least 15 U.S. service members were wounded Friday in an Iranian strike on a Saudi air base that hosts American troops, according to the Associated Press, including at least five in serious condition. The missile and drone strikes targeted Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan air base, located outside the capital Riyadh.

A first responder assists an injured boy following a strike that hit a residential building amid the U.S.-Israeli military campaign in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, March 28, 2026.
A first responder assists an injured boy following a strike that hit a residential building amid the U.S.-Israeli military campaign in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, March 28, 2026.

Iran has targeted U.S. service members at bases throughout the region since the war began a month ago, in retaliation for the U.S. attacks and seeking to drive troops out of the region. Overall, the Pentagon has put the U.S. casualty toll at 13 killed and more than 300 injured.

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On Saturday, troops from the Japan-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, made up of around 3,500 sailors and Marines, arrived in the Middle East, according to U.S. Central Command.

The U.S. military will not say where and how they might be deployed. Thousands more soldiers from the U.S. military’s 82nd Airborne Division are also expected to be deployed.

Journalists killed in Lebanon

Three Lebanese journalists covering the Israeli invasion of the country’s south were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Jezzine.

Women hold posters showing Al-Mayadeen TV reporter Fatima Ftouni, left, and, in another poster, Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV correspondent Ali Shoeib, center, and cameraman Ali Ftouni during their funeral at a temporary cemetery in Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburbs, Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, March 29, 2026.
Women hold posters showing Al-Mayadeen TV reporter Fatima Ftouni, left, and, in another poster, Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV correspondent Ali Shoeib, center, and cameraman Ali Ftouni during their funeral at a temporary cemetery in Dahiyeh, Beirut’s southern suburbs, Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, March 29, 2026.

One of them worked for a TV channel affiliated with Hezbollah and Israel accuses him of being a militant rather than a journalist – but has not provided evidence. The journalist Israel says it targeted was Ali Shaeb, a veteran TV correspondent and household name in Lebanon. After killing him, Israel’s military issued a statement accusing him of exposing the locations of Israeli troops.

The other two journalists killed were siblings, TV correspondent Fatima Ftouni and her cameraman brother, Mohammed Ftouni. Afterward their father appeared on TV, saying he was proud of his children.

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All three had been covering Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon.

Lebanese officials called the attack a flagrant violation of international law, and said they’re complaining to the UN Security Council. Hundreds of fellow journalists marched at a protest vigil in Lebanon’s capital.

The three journalists were among at least 47 people killed Saturday in Israeli attacks, according to Lebanese health officials.

Nine of those killed were paramedics, which the head of the World Health Organization called “a tragedy,” noting health workers are protected under international law.

Residents inspect their home after it was struck by an Iranian missile in Eshtaol, central Israel, Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Residents inspect their home after it was struck by an Iranian missile in Eshtaol, central Israel, Saturday, March 28, 2026.

Israel has intensified its attacks across Lebanon, mostly in the South, where Israeli ground troops are moving northward to try to oust Hezbollah militants.

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Another Israeli soldier was also killed in Lebanon, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressing his condolences on X over the weekend.

Developments in Syria, Iraq

The war is spreading to more parts of the Middle East. On Sunday, Syria said it had intercepted a drone strike from Iraq targeting a U.S. military base. Pro-Iran Iraqi groups have claimed responsibility for some attacks on US interests.

Separately, the Syrian and UAE governments condemned an attack targeting the residence of the Kurdish region’s president Nechirvan Barzani.

French President Emmanuel Macron also condemned the attack saying: “The sovereignty of Iraq, and of Kurdistan within it, is essential to regional stability. Everything must be done to prevent Iraq from being drawn into the ongoing escalation.”

On Sunday, the Israeli army said it had launched its “first” attack into Lebanon from Syria.

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Jane Arraf in Amman, Emily Feng in Van, Turkey, Lauren Frayer in Jezzine, Lebanon, Carrie Khan in Tel Aviv, and Kate Bartlett in Johannesburg contributed to this report.

Copyright 2026 NPR





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Abandoned Camper Fire On South Main Street Knocked Down By Concord Fire And Rescue Teams

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Abandoned Camper Fire On South Main Street Knocked Down By Concord Fire And Rescue Teams


CONCORD, NH — The Concord Fire Department is investigating the cause of a camper fire on South Main Street late Friday night.

Around 11:30 p.m., fire and rescue teams were sent to South Main Street, not far from Langdon Avenue, for a report of a camper on fire. Dispatch said it was unknown if anyone was inside or if the camper was abandoned.

“We have a couple of calls on it,” a dispatcher said. “It’s fully involved.”

A few minutes later, the fire was confirmed, and firefighters worked to extinguish it. The battalion commander confirmed no one was inside, and it appeared to be abandoned. Dispatch said, if they recalled correctly, the camper had been there for “quite a while.”

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News 603 posted videos from the scene on Facebook here:

And here:

The bulk of the fire was knocked down after about 20 minutes, with firefighters overhauling and dealing with “the hot spots.”

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Not long after the overhaul update, firefighters were sent to a business on South Main Street, near the camper fire, in response to a report of an alarm activation.

After investigating, there did not appear to be an activation at the business, a commander said. Later, dispatch said the alarm appeared to restore itself automatically. Firefighters cleared the scene of the business alarm just after midnight on Saturday.





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New Hampshire may see rare Atlas V rocket launch. Here’s when to look

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New Hampshire may see rare Atlas V rocket launch. Here’s when to look


A 20-story tall, 1.3 million-pound Atlas V rocket will blast off from Florida this weekend, and Granite Staters waking up very early might able to see it if the clouds in the sky don’t cover it.

Teams with United Launch Alliance are prepping for the Atlas V rocket launch, the fifth Amazon Leo constellation mission. Liftoff is planned at 3:53 a.m. ET Sunday, March 29, 2026, from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Pending weather conditions and cloud cover, the Atlas V-Amazon Leo predawn launch could be visible from Florida to New England, according to ULA. That is, if their city falls on the ULA Atlas V rocket launch visibility map (see below), and if they’re awake at the time of liftoff.

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The Atlas V rocket will be equipped with five solid rocket boosters to launch the next batch of Amazon Leo broadband satellites (previously referred to as Project Kuiper) into low-Earth orbit, giving a great show to those watching.

However, weather could disrupt viewing, as the New Hampshire area on the visibility map is set for isolated snow showers before 10 p.m. on Saturday night as well as partly cloudy skies, the National Weather Service said.

Here’s what to know about ULA Atlas V rocket launch visibility from New Hampshire.

When will ULA Atlas V launch?

The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket will launch from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida in the early morning hours on Sunday, March 29. The 29-minute launch window will begin at 3:53 a.m.

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The visibility map provided by ULA shows about when and where your best chances are to see the rocket as it streaks northeasterly into space.

Will New Hampshire be able to see the ULA Atlas V launch

New Hampshire, specifically just outside Concord, New Hampshire, falls in the semi-outer periphery of the visibility area for the ULA Atlas V rocket launch, according to ULA’s visibility map.

Estimated visibility will occur at launch +330 seconds, or about five minutes and 30 seconds, following the launch in Florida. However, viewing chances depend on weather conditions, and Concord, New Hampshire is currently set for isolated snow showers before 10 p.m. and then partly cloudy skies on Saturday night into Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service. This might block visibility, as clear skies are essential for best views.

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What is ULA Atlas V?

United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket is a spacecraft with five solid rocket boosters that will send a batch of Amazon Leo broadband satellites into outer space, to low-Earth orbit.

How can you follow along live?

FLORIDA TODAY will offer live coverage via a live webcast with live tweets and updates for the rocket launch.



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