HB191 (2007) Detail

(New Title) relative to the authority to unseal ballots following a state election.


CHAPTER 75

HB 191 – FINAL VERSION

27Mar2007… 0716h

2007 SESSION

07-0449

03/10

HOUSE BILL 191

AN ACT relative to the authority to unseal ballots following a state election.

SPONSORS: Rep. Manney, Hills 7

COMMITTEE: Election Law

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill authorizes the clerk having custody of sealed state election ballots to unseal them if an election return is sealed with them.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

27Mar2007… 0716h

07-0449

03/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seven

AN ACT relative to the authority to unseal ballots following a state election.

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

75:1 Forwarding of Election Returns; Sealed Ballots. Amend RSA 659:75 to read as follows:

659:75 Forwarding; Retaining Copies of Return. One copy of the election return shall be forwarded by the town or ward clerk to the secretary of state no later than the Monday following a state election unless the secretary of state orders them sooner. The other shall be kept by the town or city clerk and shall be open to public inspection at reasonable times. If an official state election return is sealed along with the ballots, the clerk having custody of the sealed ballots shall, at the request of the secretary of state, and in the presence of a state election official, unseal the ballots and retrieve the election return. The ballots shall be immediately resealed and the election return shall be delivered to the secretary of state by the election official.

75:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Approved: June 11, 2007

Effective: August 10, 2007