Write-in candidate Amanda Allen filed for a recount of the primary election results in her bid to replace incumbent Jonah Wheeler on the ballot as a state representative candidate for Peterborough and Sharon in the November general election.
Wheeler won the Sept. 8 Democratic primary by 19 votes, a 1.2% margin. Two days later, Allen challenged that result, citing voter confusion over write-in ballot instructions. Some voters wrote “Allen” or “Amanda” on the ballot instead of her full name.
“What I want is for every voter that voted for me to be counted,” Allen said.
Peterborough Town Clerk Linda Guyette said poll workers did not count ballots without Allen’s full name because they could not guarantee that the “Allen” or “Amanda” referenced was specific to her write-in campaign.
After speaking with election experts and lawyers, Allen said she filed for a recount so that the votes can be counted based on voter intent.
As highlighted in state RSA 40:4-g, the voter’s intent should be considered if it can be determined, even if the voter did not follow ballot instructions.
More recently, this was practiced during the write-in campaign for former president Joe Biden in the January 2024 New Hampshire primary. At the time, town moderators and poll workers were instructed to consider voters’ intent when counting ballots, if it was clear.
If the results stand after the recount, Allen plans to continue her write-in campaign in the November general election.
“I’m comfortable with any outcome,” Allen said.
Wheeler did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
On Tuesday, Sept. 15, the ballots will be hand-counted in the presence of the candidates or a representative of each candidate at the State Archives in Concord. The team conducting the recount will determine voter intent, and if Allen or Wheeler disagrees, the Secretary of State will decide. If either candidate disagrees with the Secretary of State, then the final decision goes to the Ballot Law Commission.