SB287 (2025) Detail

Requiring applicants for absentee ballots to present a copy of their photo identification with their application.


SB 287 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

 

5Jun2025... 2414h

2025 SESSION

25-1097

08/02

 

SENATE BILL 287

 

AN ACT requiring applicants for absentee ballots to present a copy of their photo identification with their application.

 

SPONSORS: Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. McGough, Dist 11; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Gray, Dist 6; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Sullivan, Dist 18; Rep. Hill, Merr. 2; Rep. Moffett, Merr. 4

 

COMMITTEE: Election Law and Municipal Affairs

 

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 

This bill requires applicants for absentee ballots to present a copy of their photo identification with their application or present a notarized application before receiving an absentee ballot.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

5Jun2025... 2414h 25-1097

08/02

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

 

AN ACT requiring applicants for absentee ballots to present a copy of their photo identification with their application.

 

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

 

1  New Section; Pre-Election Procedure; Verification of Mail-In Absentee Voter.  Amend RSA 657 by inserting after section 17-b the following new section:

657:17-c Verification of Absentee Ballot Applicant.  

I. Every applicant for an absentee ballot shall provide verification before being issued an absentee ballot. Verification shall be satisfied by one of the following methods:  

(a) Including a copy of the voter's photo identification with the absentee ballot application. The identification shall meet the requirements of RSA 659:13, II(a);

(b) Including a notarized signature on the absentee ballot application form; or

(c) Personally presenting a qualifying photo identification, as defined in RSA 659:13, II(a), to the city or town clerk or their designee prior to the issuance of the absentee ballot.

II. No absentee ballot shall be issued unless one of the verification methods under paragraph I has been satisfied.

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

Amendments

Date Amendment
May 28, 2025 2025-2414h
June 17, 2025 2025-2797CofC

Links


Date Body Type
March 11, 2025 Senate Hearing
March 27, 2025 Senate Floor Vote
April 22, 2025 House Hearing
April 29, 2025 House Exec Session
May 27, 2025 House Exec Session
May 27, 2025 House Floor Vote
June 18, 2025 House Floor Vote

Bill Text Revisions

SB287 Revision: 48701 Date: June 17, 2025, 1:31 p.m.
SB287 Revision: 48533 Date: June 5, 2025, 5:45 p.m.
SB287 Revision: 48372 Date: May 28, 2025, 1:04 p.m.
SB287 Revision: 46880 Date: Jan. 24, 2025, 10:10 a.m.

Docket


June 18, 2025: Conference Committee Report # 2025-2797c Filed 06/18/2025; As Amended by the House HJ 17


June 16, 2025: Conferee Change; Senator Rochefort Replaces Senator Perkins Kwoka; SJ 17


June 12, 2025: Committee of Conference Meeting: 06/16/2025, 09:13 am, Room 103, SH


June 11, 2025: Speaker Appoints: Reps. Berry, Qualey, Burnham, Wood 06/05/2025 HJ 16


June 11, 2025: House Accedes to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Kofalt): MA VV 06/05/2025 HJ 16


June 11, 2025: President Appoints: Senators Gray, Lang, Perkins Kwoka; (In Recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16


June 11, 2025: Sen. Gray Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of C, MA, VV; (In Recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16


June 5, 2025: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-2414h: MA RC 187-149 06/05/2025 HJ 16


June 5, 2025: Amendment # 2025-2414h: AA RC 184-146 06/05/2025 HJ 16


May 28, 2025: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate


May 28, 2025: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2414h 05/27/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 27 P. 20


May 14, 2025: Executive Session: 05/27/2025 10:00 am LOB 306-308


April 8, 2025: ==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 04/29/2025 10:00 am LOB 306-308


April 8, 2025: Public Hearing: 04/22/2025 02:40 pm LOB 306-308


March 28, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 11 P. 113


March 27, 2025: Ought to Pass: RC 16Y-8N, MA; OT3rdg; 03/27/2025; SJ 9


March 18, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 03/27/2025, Vote 3-2; SC 14


March 7, 2025: Hearing: 03/11/2025, Room 103, LOB, 09:30 am; SC 12


Jan. 24, 2025: Introduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 3