hb 0099

CHAPTER 8

HB 99 - FINAL VERSION

AN ACT relative to absentee ballot requests.

SPONSORS: Rep. Flanagan, Rock 78; Rep. Fields, Hills 58

This bill clarifies that an application for an absentee ballot may be transmitted by facsimile to a town or city clerk.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

AN ACT relative to absentee ballot requests.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

8:1 Procedure for Absence, Religious Observance, and Disability and Overseas Voting; Provisions for General Election; Facsimile Application. Amend RSA 657:12 to read as follows:

657:12 Provisions for General Election. Upon receipt of a properly executed application for an official absentee ballot, whether the form supplied by the secretary of state, the federal post card application form, or a written statement containing the information required by the appropriate paragraph of RSA 657:4, a town or city clerk shall forthwith ascertain if the applicant is on the checklist of the town or city. If the applicant is on the checklist, the clerk shall send the materials provided for in RSA 657:15; if not, [he] the clerk shall refuse to certify as provided in RSA 657:16. An application may be transmitted by facsimile to a town or city clerk.

8:2 Procedure for Absence, Religious Observance, and Disability and Overseas Voting; Provisions for State or Presidential Primary Elections; Facsimile Application. Amend RSA 657:13 to read as follows:

657:13 Provisions for State or Presidential Primary Elections. Upon receipt of a properly executed application for an official absentee ballot, whether the form supplied by the secretary of state or a written statement containing the information required by the appropriate paragraph of RSA 657:4, a town or city clerk shall forthwith ascertain if the person is on the checklist of the town or city and is properly registered as to party designation. If such person is found to be on the checklist and to be properly registered or if such person is found to be on the checklist but is not registered as a member of any party, but the information supplied states he or she is applying for a ballot of a political party, [he] the person shall be registered as a member of said party; and, in either case, the clerk shall send the materials provided for in RSA 657:15. If the person is not on the checklist or is registered as a member of a party different from the one whose ballot he or she is applying for, the clerk shall refuse to certify as provided in RSA 657:16. An application may be transmitted by facsimile to a town or city clerk.