HB266 (2010) Detail

Relative to the right-to-know exemption for voter records.


HB 266 – AS INTRODUCED

2009 SESSION

09-0819

03/01

HOUSE BILL 266

AN ACT relative to the right-to-know exemption for voter records.

SPONSORS: Rep. Fields, Belk 2; Rep. Boyce, Belk 5; Sen. Downing, Dist 22

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

ANALYSIS

This bill modifies the exemption from the right-to-know law for certain voter records.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

09-0819

03/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nine

AN ACT relative to the right-to-know exemption for voter records.

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

1 Right to Know Exemption. Amend RSA 654:31-a to read as follows:

654:31-a Right to Know Exemption. The information contained on the checklist of a town or city, specifically, the name, street address, mailing address, town or city, and party affiliation, if any, of registered voters, except as otherwise provided by statute, is public information subject to RSA 91-A. All other information on the voter registration form, absentee registration affidavit, citizenship and domicile affidavits, and application for absentee ballot shall be treated as confidential information and the records containing this information shall be exempt from the public disclosure provisions of RSA 91-A, except as provided by statutes other than RSA 91-A. [Notwithstanding the foregoing, citizenship and domicile affidavits are public records subject to RSA 91-A for the sole purpose of challenging an individual registering to vote or voting, challenging ballots to be recounted, to the extent that such ballot challenges are specifically authorized by law, or determining the accuracy of any citizenship or domicile affidavit.] Election officials and law enforcement personnel in furtherance of their official duties may access and may disclose information from the voter registration form, citizenship and domicile affidavits, absentee registration affidavits, and applications for absentee ballots, if necessary to resolve a challenge to an individual [registering to vote or voting] seeking to obtain a ballot, or if necessary to investigate or prosecute election law violations or any crime. Any challenge of a voter at the polling place shall follow the procedure in RSA 659:27. Law enforcement access and use of such records for the investigation or prosecution of crimes unrelated to election law violations shall be limited to the records of the specific individuals who are the subject of the investigation or prosecution.

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