Bill Text - SB31 (2021)

Relative to voter checklists and modifying the absentee ballot affidavit.


Revision: May 20, 2021, 3:39 p.m.

Rep. Hayward, Straf. 1

May 13, 2021

2021-1486h

11/10

 

 

Amendment to SB 31

 

Amend the bill by replacing section 2 with the following:

 

2  Absentee Affidavit Envelopes.  Amend RSA 657:7, II to read as follows:

II.  Affidavit envelopes of sufficient size to contain the ballots on which shall be printed the following:

[(a)  Absence from City or Town.  A person voting by absentee ballot because of absence from the city or town in which he or she is entitled to vote shall fill out and sign the following certificate:

I do hereby certify under the penalties for voting fraud set forth below that I am a voter in the city or town of _______________, New Hampshire, in ward __________; that I will be unable to appear at any time during polling hours at my polling place because I will be working on election day, or I am voting on the Monday immediately prior to the election, the National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning, blizzard warning, or ice storm warning, and I am elderly or infirm, have a physical disability, or have to care for children or infirm adults, or I will be otherwise absent on election day from said city or town and will be unable to vote in person; that I have carefully read (or had read to me because I am blind) the instructions forwarded to me with the ballot herein enclosed, and that I personally marked the ballot within and sealed it in this envelope (or had assistance in marking the ballot and sealing it in this envelope because I am blind).  For the purposes of this certification, the term "working" shall include the care of children and infirm adults, with or without compensation.

(Signature) ____________________

In accordance with RSA 659:34, the penalty for knowingly or purposefully providing false information when registering to vote or voting is a class A misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of imprisonment not to exceed one year and a fine not to exceed $2,000.  Fraudulently registering to vote or voting is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000.

(b)  Absence Because of Religious Observance or Physical Disability.  A person voting by absentee ballot because of religious observance or physical disability shall fill out and sign the following certificate:

I do hereby certify under the penalties for voting fraud set forth below that I am a voter in the city or town of ____________, New Hampshire, in ward ____________; that I will be observing a religious commitment which prevents me from voting in person or that on account of physical disability I am unable to vote in person; that I have carefully read (or had read to me because I am blind) the instructions forwarded to me with the ballot herein enclosed, and that I personally marked the ballot within and sealed it in this envelope (or had assistance in marking the ballot and sealing it in this envelope because I am blind).

(Signature) ____________________

The signature on this affidavit must appear to be executed by the same person who signed the absentee ballot application.]

 

YOUR COMPLTED ABSENTEE BALLOT MUST BE SEALED IN THIS ENVELOPE

 

I do hereby certify under the penalties for voting fraud set forth below that:

I am a voter in the city or town of ___________, New Hampshire.  

One of the following applies to me:

1) I will be absent on election day.  Absence includes:

a) I will be out-of-town on election day.

b) I will be unable to vote in person because I will be working.

c) I will be unable to vote in person because I will be caring for children or infirm adults, with or without compensation.

d) I am voting absentee on the Monday immediately before the election, the National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning, blizzard warning, or ice storm warning that applies to my town/ward, and I have concerns for traveling in the storm.

2) I am unable to vote in person due to disability.  

3) I am unable to vote in person due to observance of a religious commitment, which prevents me from voting in person.

I have carefully read or had read to me the absentee voting instructions.  I personally marked the absentee ballot enclosed in this envelope or, due to a disability, I had assistance in marking the absentee ballot.

 

Voter Signature__________________

A person assisting a [disabled or blind] voter with a disability shall [make and] sign [a] this statement on this envelope [in the space provided] acknowledging the assistance.  [The moderator will not compare the voter's signature on this affidavit with the signature on the absentee ballot application when a person assisting the voter has signed the statement on the affidavit that assistance was provided.]

I attest that I assisted (print voter name) ________________________ because the voter is a person with a disability.  I marked the ballot and/or this form as instructed by the voter.

In accordance with RSA 659:34, the penalty for knowingly or purposefully providing false information when registering to vote or voting is a class A misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of imprisonment not to exceed one year and a fine not to exceed $2,000.  Fraudulently registering to vote or voting is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000.