HB 1419-FN – AS INTRODUCED
2008 SESSION
03/09
HOUSE BILL 1419-FN
AN ACT relative to voting machine costs.
SPONSORS: Rep. Vachon, Straf 3
This bill requires the state to pay costs of data entry for voting machines and devices for state elections.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
08-2090
03/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight
AN ACT relative to voting machine costs.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Voting Machines; Lease or Purchase; Reprogramming. Amend RSA 656:43 to read as follows:
656:43 Lease or Purchase. Any town or city authorizing the use of a voting machine or a device for computerized casting and counting of ballots shall pay the cost of lease or purchase. When such a machine or device is purchased by a town or city, the person from whom such machine is purchased shall give to the secretary of state a suitable bond with sufficient sureties to keep such machine in good working order for not less than 2 years at the seller’s own expense. All subsequent costs for data entry necessary to use the machine or device at a state election shall be paid by the secretary of state from the election fund established in RSA 5:6-d.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LBAO
08-2090
Revised 10/29/07
HB 1419-FN - FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT relative to voting machine costs.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Secretary of State indicates this bill will increase State expenditures and decrease local expenditures by $231,000 in FY 2009, $231,000 in FY 2011 and $115,500 in FY 2012. There will be no fiscal impact on county expenditures or state, county and local revenue.
METHODOLOGY:
The Secretary of State indicates this bill will require the state to pay costs of data entry for voting machines and devices for state elections. The Secretary of State estimates there are approximately 140 cities and towns using optical scan counting machines. On average it costs $825 per election, per town to program the machines for a total of $115,500 per election. The Secretary of State indicates there are two state elections every even numbered year and every fourth year a presidential primary. The table shows the number and type of elections and the total cost for each fiscal year.
Fiscal Year |
Number and Type of Elections |
Cost |
FY 2009 |
Two state elections |
$231,000 |
FY 2010 |
No state elections |
$0 |
FY 2011 |
Two state elections |
$231,000 |
FY 2012 |
Presidential primary |
$115,500 |