SB 206-FN – VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
03/06/14 0694s
30Apr2014… 1443h
2014 SESSION
03/10
SENATE BILL 206-FN
AN ACT relative to proof of identity by voters.
SPONSORS: Sen. Pierce, Dist 5; Sen. Boutin, Dist 16; Sen. Lasky, Dist 13; Rep. G. Richardson, Merr 10; Rep. Hoelzel, Rock 3; Rep. J. Belanger, Hills 27
COMMITTEE: Public and Municipal Affairs
This bill establishes requirements for challenging alternative forms of identification of voters.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/06/14 0694s
30Apr2014… 1443h
14-2608
03/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fourteen
AN ACT relative to proof of identity by voters.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Obtaining a Ballot; Challenges. Amend RSA 659:13, II(b) to read as follows:
(b) In addition to the forms of photo identification authorized in subparagraph (a), the following shall satisfy the identification requirements of paragraph I:
(1) A photo identification not authorized by subparagraph (a) but determined to be legitimate by the supervisors of the checklist, the moderator, or the clerk of a town, ward, or city [clerk], provided that if any person authorized to challenge a voter under RSA 659:27 objects to the use of such photo identification, identifies the reason for the objection in writing, and states the specific source of the information or personal knowledge upon which the challenge of the photo identification is based, the voter shall be required to execute a challenged voter affidavit as if no identification was presented.
(2) Verification of the person’s identity by a moderator or supervisor of the checklist or the clerk of a town, ward, or city [clerk], provided that if any person authorized to challenge a voter under RSA?659:27 objects to such verification, identifies the reason for the objection in writing, and states the specific source of the information or personal knowledge upon which the challenge of the verification of identity is based, the voter shall be required to execute a challenged voter affidavit as if no verification was made.
2 New Subparagraph; 2015 Version; Obtaining a Ballot; Identification. Amend RSA 659:13, II(a) by inserting after subparagraph (6) the following new subparagraph:
(7) A photo identification not authorized by subparagraphs (1) through (6) but determined to be legitimate by the supervisors of the checklist, the moderator, or the clerk of a town, ward, or city [clerk], provided that if any person authorized to challenge a voter under RSA 659:27 objects to the use of such photo identification, identifies the reason for the objection in writing, and states the specific source of the information or personal knowledge upon which the challenge of the photo identification is based, the voter shall be required to execute a challenged voter affidavit as if no identification was presented.
3 Obtaining a Ballot; Challenges; 2015 Version. Amend RSA 659:13, II(b) to read as follows:
(b) In addition to the forms of photo identification authorized in subparagraph (a), the identification requirements of paragraph I may be satisfied by verification of the person’s identity by a moderator or supervisor of the checklist or the clerk of a town, ward, or city [clerk], provided that if any person authorized to challenge a voter under RSA 659:27 objects to such verification, identifies the reason for the objection in writing, and states the specific source of the information or personal knowledge upon which the challenge of the photo identification is based, the voter shall be required to execute a challenged voter affidavit as if no verification was made.
4 Effective Date.
I. Sections 2-3 of this act shall take effect September 1, 2015, at 12:03 a.m.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LBAO
14-2608
Amended 05/05/14
SB 206-FN FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT relative to proof of identity by voters.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The New Hampshire Municipal Association states this bill, as amended by the House (Amendment #2014-1443h), may decrease local expenditures by an indeterminable amount in FY 2015 and each year thereafter. There will be no impact on state and county expenditures, or state, county, and local revenue.
METHODOLOGY:
The New Hampshire Municipal Association states this bill provides that when a person challenges a voter identification determined to be legitimate by election officials, or when a person challenges an election official’s verification of a voter’s identify in the absence of photo identification, the person making the challenge must identify the reason for the challenge in writing. The person must also state the specific source of the information or personal knowledge upon which the challenge of the photo identification is based. For elections held after September 1, 2015, the bill also extends the existing statute allowing election officials to determine that a form of identification is legitimate even though it is not listed in statute. The Association states that these changes are likely to reduce to some extent the number of challenges issued, in turn reducing the workload of election workers. This may result in reduced election staffing needs for municipalities and a corresponding reduction in municipal expenditures. The Association states that it has no way of estimating the magnitude of the impact, but believes it will not be significant.