Revision: Jan. 15, 2019, 2:53 p.m.
HB 593 - AS INTRODUCED
2019 SESSION
19-0667
11/05
HOUSE BILL 593
AN ACT relative to updating official voter checklists.
SPONSORS: Rep. Gay, Rock. 8; Rep. McBride, Rock. 8
COMMITTEE: Election Law
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ANALYSIS
This bill outlines procedures that supervisors of the checklist must follow when they receive informal reports that a voter has died or has changed address.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
19-0667
11/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen
AN ACT relative to updating official voter checklists.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Sections; Unofficial Reports of Change of Address or Death. Amend RSA 654 by inserting after section 37 the following new sections:
654:37-a Unofficial Reports of Change of Address.
I. If the supervisors of the checklist learn of the change of address of a voter but do not receive notice as outlined in RSA 654:36-b or RSA 654:37, they shall mail a letter to the last known address of the voter, addressed to the voter, that contains the following requests:
(a) An indication as to whether the voter in question has moved and, if known and as applicable, the current address.
(b) The signature of the person completing the information outlined in subparagraph (a).
II. Upon return of the completed letter pursuant to paragraph I, the supervisors shall:
(a) Attempt to confirm the new address of the voter in question.
(b) In the event the voter has moved, follow the provisions of RSA 654:36-b for removal of the name of the voter from the checklist.
654:37-b Unofficial Reports of Death.
I. If the supervisors of the checklist learn of the death of a voter but do not receive notice as outlined in RSA 654:36-b or RSA 654:37, they shall mail a letter to the last known address of the voter addressed to the "family of (insert voter's name)" which contains a separate letter addressed back to the supervisors of the checklist containing the following requests, written as compassionately as possible:
(a) An indication as to whether the addressee has died and, if known, the place of death, and any note the responding person may add.
(b) The signature of the person completing the information outlined in subparagraph (a).
II. Upon return of the completed letter outlined in paragraph I, the supervisors shall:
(a) Attempt to verify the death of the voter in question.
(b) In the event the voter has died, follow the provisions of RSA 654:37 for removal of the name of the voter from the checklist.
2 Voters and Checklists; Removing Names from the Checklist; Notice Required. Amend RSA 654:44, II to read as follows:
II. The provisions of this section do not apply to the removal of the names of persons for whom the supervisors have received a report of transfer or death as provided in RSA 654:36, [or] 654:37, or 654:37-a, nor to the removal of names during the period for verification of the checklist as provided in RSA 654:38 or 654:39, nor to the removal of names of persons for whom they have received a notice from a duly authorized board of registration from a community outside New Hampshire stating that a person whose name is on the checklist of the town or ward in New Hampshire has registered to vote outside New Hampshire.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.