HB 745 - AS INTRODUCED
2003 SESSION
03/10
HOUSE BILL 745
AN ACT relative to voters presenting identification to obtain a ballot.
SPONSORS: Rep. G. Katsakiores, Rock 77; Rep. Whalley, Belk 31; Rep. P. Katsakiores, Rock 77; Rep. Reeves, Hills 49; Rep. Letourneau, Rock 77; Sen. Prescott, Dist 23; Sen. Sapareto, Dist 19; Sen. Barnes, Dist 17
This bill permits municipalities to require that voters present identification or sign an affidavit to obtain a ballot.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03-0322
03/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Three
AN ACT relative to voters presenting identification to obtain a ballot.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Election Day Morning Procedures; Statutes Posted; Reference Added. Amend RSA 658:29 to read as follows:
658:29 Statutes Posted. The secretary of state shall prepare and distribute copies of the following RSA sections which the selectmen shall post or cause to be posted outside the guardrail in the polling place: RSA 654:38, 39; RSA 658:29; RSA 659:13, 27, 30, 31, 32, 103; RSA 665:15; RSA 666:4, 5, 8, [9, 10, 11,] 12. If the legislative body of a municipality adopts the alternative procedure for obtaining a ballot pursuant to RSA 659:13-a, the selectmen shall post or cause to be posted RSA 659:13-a in lieu of RSA 659:13.
2 New Section; Optional Procedure for Obtaining a Ballot. Amend RSA 659 by inserting after section 13 the following new section:
659:13-a Optional Procedure for Obtaining a Ballot.
I. The legislative body of a municipality may adopt the alternative procedure for obtaining a ballot established in paragraph II. Upon adoption, the alternative procedure shall be followed in lieu of the procedure established in RSA 659:13 at all elections in the municipality. If the legislative body votes to discontinue use of the alternative procedure for obtaining a ballot, the procedure established in RSA 659:13 shall be followed at all elections in the municipality held after such vote. The governing body of the municipality shall notify the secretary of state of the adoption of the alternative procedure for obtaining a ballot or of the vote to discontinue the alternative procedure for obtaining a ballot.
II. In municipalities adopting the procedures in this paragraph, a person desiring to vote shall, before being admitted to the enclosed space within the guardrail, announce his or her name and present his or her New Hampshire driver's license, armed services identification card, United States passport, or any other form of photographic identification to one of the ballot clerks who shall thereupon repeat the name; and, if the name is found on the checklist by the ballot clerk, the ballot clerk shall put a checkmark beside it and again repeat the name. If the person does not have his or her driver's license, passport, or other form of photographic identification, the ballot clerk shall notify the person of the affidavit provided for in RSA 659:27. The voter, unless challenged as provided for in RSA 659:27-33, or unless failing to present proper identification and failing to sign an affidavit, shall then be allowed to enter the space enclosed by the guardrail. After the voter enters the enclosed space, the ballot clerk shall give the voter one of each ballot to be voted on in that election which shall be folded as it was upon receipt from the secretary of state.
3 Preservation of Challenge Affidavits. Amend RSA 659:103 to read as follows:
659:103 Preservation of Challenge Affidavits. The affidavits made by challenged voters as provided in RSA 659:27 shall be preserved by the town clerk for at least one year following the date of a state election. In contested elections, all affidavits made by challenged voters shall be retained by the town clerk until the contest is settled and all appeals periods have expired or for at least one year, whichever is longer. Affidavits made pursuant to RSA 659:13-a shall be retained with the ballots for the period of time established in RSA 659:100.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.