SB546 (2016) Detail

Relative to petitions for verification of checklists.


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SB 546-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

2016 SESSION

\t16-2977

\t03/09

 

SENATE BILL\t546-FN

 

AN ACT\trelative to petitions for verification of checklists.

 

SPONSORS:\tSen. Pierce, Dist 5; Sen. Lasky, Dist 13; Rep. Burton, Straf. 6

 

COMMITTEE:\tPublic and Municipal Affairs

 

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ANALYSIS

 

\tThis bill lengthens the time period during which voters may petition for verification of checklists and requires evidence that persons are listed on the checklist who are not qualified to vote for the ballot law commission to direct the supervisors to revise and verify the checklist.

 

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Explanation:\tMatter added to current law appears in bold italics.

\t\tMatter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

\t\tMatter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

\t16-2977

\t03/09

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Sixteen

 

AN ACT\trelative to petitions for verification of checklists.

 

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

 

\t1  Verification of Checklist; Petition Deadline.  Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 654:38 to read as follows:

\t654:38  Verification of Checklists.  [On petition of 50] Fifty registered voters or 5 percent of the registered voters in any town or ward, whichever is less, or [on petition of] a majority of the board of supervisors of the checklist [filed] may file with the secretary of state, no later than the [fifth] eighth Friday after a state election, a petition for verification of the checklist.  Such petition shall be submitted along with sufficient evidence that there are persons listed on the checklist who are not qualified to vote.  The secretary of state shall review the evidence and determine whether probable cause exists to believe that persons who are not qualified to vote are listed on the checklist and shall notify the petitioners of his or her finding.  If probable cause exists, the secretary of state shall forward the petition to the ballot law commission.  If the ballot law commission determines that there is clear and convincing evidence that there are persons listed on the checklist who are not qualified to vote, it shall conduct an investigation to determine whether or not there should be a revision and verification of the checklist of said town or ward.  At least one public hearing duly advertised in a newspaper of general circulation in said town or city shall be held by the commission at such time and place it may determine.  In the event of an affirmative decision, the commission shall direct the supervisors to revise and verify such checklist.  Thereupon the supervisors shall revise and verify such checklist in the following manner:

\t2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 

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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t16-2977

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1/28/16

 

SB 546-FN- FISCAL NOTE

 

AN ACT\trelative to petitions for verification of checklists.

 

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant is unable to complete a fiscal note for this bill, as introduced, as it is awaiting information from the Secretary of State and New Hampshire Municipal Association, who were contacted on 01/14/16 relative to the potential fiscal impact of this bill.  When completed, the fiscal note will be forwarded to the Senate Clerk's Office.