SB108: relative to absentee ballot applications.

CHAPTER 49

SB 108 - FINAL VERSION

2017 SESSION

17-0898

03/06

SENATE BILL 108

AN ACT relative to absentee ballot applications.

SPONSORS: Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Sen. Lasky, Dist 13; Rep. Cote, Hills. 31; Rep. M. MacKay, Hills. 30; Rep. O'Brien, Hills. 36; Rep. LeBrun, Hills. 32

COMMITTEE: Election Law and Internal Affairs

ANALYSIS

This bill provides absentee ballot applicants with the option to provide a phone number and an email 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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

17-0898

03/06

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen

AN ACT relative to absentee ballot applications.

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

49:1 Absentee Voting; Forms. Amend RSA 657:4, I to read as follows:

I. Prior to any state election, the secretary of state shall prepare the appropriate application forms for absentee ballots worded in substantially the following form. The secretary of state shall insert the names of all parties qualified as set forth in RSA 652:11 in the list of parties on the application form. The secretary of state shall prepare the application forms in such quantity as he or she deems necessary:

Absence (Excluding Absence Due to Residence Outside the United States), Religious Observance, and Disability:

I hereby declare that (check one):

_ I am a duly qualified voter who is currently registered to vote in this town/ward.

_ I am absent from the town/city where I am domiciled and will be until after the next election, or I am unable to register in person due to a disability, and request that the forms necessary for absentee voter registration be sent to me with the absentee ballot.

I will be entitled to vote by absentee ballot because (check one):

_ I plan to be absent on the day of the election from the city, town, or unincorporated place where I am domiciled.

_ I am requesting a ballot for the presidential primary election and I may be absent on the day of the election from the city, town, or unincorporated place where I am domiciled, but the date of the election has not been announced. I understand that I may only make such a request 14 days after the filing period for candidates has closed, and that if I will not be absent on the date of the election I am not eligible to vote by absentee ballot.

_ I cannot appear in public on election day because of observance of a religious commitment.

_ I am unable to vote in person due to a disability.

_ I cannot appear at any time during polling hours at my polling place because of an employment obligation. For the purposes of this application, the term “employment” shall include the care of children and infirm adults, with or without compensation.

Any person who votes or attempts to vote using an absentee ballot who is not entitled to vote by absentee ballot shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. RSA 657:24.

I am requesting an official absentee ballot for the following election (check one):

_ Presidential Primary to be held on

(MM/DD/YYYY)

(The date may appear as blank when the date is not known.)

_ State Primary to be held on

(MM/DD/YYYY)

_ General Election

For primary elections, I am a member of or I am now declaring my affiliation with the (check one):

_ Republican Party

_ Democratic Party

and am requesting a ballot for that party’s primary.

Please print:

Applicant’s Name:

(Last) (First) (Middle) (Sr., Jr., II., III)

Applicant’s Voting Domicile (home address):

(Street Number) (Street Name) (Apt/Unit) (City/Town) (Ward) (Zip Code)

Mail the ballot to me at this address (if different than the home address):

(Street Number) (Street Name) (Apt/Unit) (City/Town) (Ward) (Zip Code)

Applicant's Phone Number (optional):

Applicant's Email Address (optional): _

Applicant’s Signature:

The applicant must sign this form to receive an absentee ballot.

Date Signed:

(MM/DD/YYYY)

49:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Approved: May 12, 2017

Effective Date: July 11, 2017