HB 463-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
3Jan2024... 2385h
2023 SESSION
23-0484
06/08
HOUSE BILL 463-FN
AN ACT relative to the establishment of an election information portal.
SPONSORS: Rep. M. Paige, Rock. 11; Rep. Telerski, Hills. 11; Rep. Lane, Merr. 16; Rep. Shurtleff, Merr. 15; Rep. Muirhead, Graf. 12
COMMITTEE: Election Law
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ANALYSIS
This bill authorizes the secretary of state to develop an election information portal.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
3Jan2024... 2385h 23-0484
06/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three
AN ACT relative to the establishment of an election information portal.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Statement of Intent. It is the intent of the general court to modernize the application processes for new voter registration, requesting absentee ballots, and requesting changes to name, domicile, and party affiliation in the statewide voter database.
2 New Subdivision; Election Information Portal. Amend RSA 652 by inserting after section 27 the following new subdivision:
Election Information Portal
652:28 Election Information Portal.
I. The secretary of state shall develop, in consultation with the city and town clerks and supervisors of the checklist, an online election information portal that all persons, including those with disabilities and active-duty members of the armed forces, may use to:
(a) Complete a new voter application.
(b) Request an absentee ballot.
(c) Request changes to the statewide centralized voter registration database, such as name, domicile address, mailing address, and party affiliation.
II. A new voter application to the election information portal shall not allow verification of identity, age, or domicile by affidavit under RSA 654:12. Verification of citizenship shall be permitted by a sworn statement provided by the election information statement.
III. Any requests placed in the election information portal shall be submitted to the appropriate municipal official for verification and processing pursuant to and in a manner consistent with relevant election laws, including RSA 654, except that the information shall be provided in a format the secretary of state deems suitable for electronic submission. Any information submitted to the portal shall be retrievable and printable at any time including during the processing of the information. In addition, nonpublic data related to individual voter data shall remain confidential.
IV. The online election information portal authorized herein shall be operational by May 1, 2026.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
23-0484
Amended 1/22/24
HB 463-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2023-2385h)
AN ACT relative to the establishment of an election information portal.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
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Estimated State Impact - Increase / (Decrease) | ||||||
| FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures | $0 | $555,000 | $174,000 | $177,000 | ||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund | |||||
Appropriations | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
• Does this bill provide sufficient funding to cover estimated expenditures? [X] No • Does this bill authorize new positions to implement this bill? [X] No | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill authorizes the Secretary of State to develop an election information portal allowing voters to access new voter application, request an absentee ballot or request changes to the statewide centralized voter registration database, such as name, domicile address, mailing address, and party affiliation.
The Department of State indicates the estimated cost for designing, building, and testing the portal is $426,000. Additionally, the Department anticipates annual maintenance fees of approximately $84,000 and the need for a new ongoing position, specifically a Program Assistant III, labor grade 23, to help get the portal project up and running and then transition to handle the increase call volume to assist voters and election officials with the new portal.
Costs | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 |
New Portal Design and Construction | $426,000 | $0 | $0 |
Maintenance Fees | $42,000 (6 months) | $84,000 | $84,000 |
Program Assistant III Position | $87,000 | $90,000 | $93,000 |
Total | $555,000 | $174,000 | $177,000 |
It is assumed the fiscal impact from this bill will not occur until FY 2025. Additionally, this bill does not establish or provide an appropriation for the new position. Nor does it provide an appropriation for the new portal.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of State