HB459: relative to challenged voter affidavits.

HB 459 - AS INTRODUCED

2017 SESSION

17-0531

03/01

HOUSE BILL 459

AN ACT relative to challenged voter affidavits.

SPONSORS: Rep. Bates, Rock. 7

COMMITTEE: Election Law

ANALYSIS

This bill modifies the content of the challenged voter affidavit.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

17-0531

03/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen

AN ACT relative to challenged voter affidavits.

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

1 New Section; Challenged Voter Affidavit. Amend RSA 659 by inserting after section 13-b the following new section:

659:13-c Challenged Voter Affidavit. The Challenged Voter Affidavit shall be in the following form:

CHALLENGED VOTER AFFIDAVIT

First Name:

Middle Name:

Last Name:

Date of Birth: _

Domicile Address:

Town/City :

Mailing Address (if different):

Town/City:

Zip Code:

Phone Number:

In accordance with RSA 659:34, the penalty for knowingly or purposely providing false information when 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.

I hereby swear or affirm, under the penalties for perjury and voting fraud, that I am:

the identical person whom I represent myself to be and am qualified to vote in this election,

I am eighteen years of age or older,

I am a United States citizen,

I am currently a resident of New Hampshire residing at the domicile address above,

and that to the best of my knowledge and belief the information above is true and correct.

(Signature of affiant)

This affidavit was executed before us on the date shown and the person who subscribed his or her name to the foregoing affidavit swore that the facts contained in this affidavit are true to the best of his or her knowledge and belief.

(Name of Election Officer) (Date)

(Signature of Election Officer)

2 Challenge of Voter. Amend RSA 659:27, II to read as follows:

II. Upon receipt of a written challenge, the moderator shall determine if the challenge to the ballot is well grounded. If the moderator determines that the challenge is well grounded, the moderator shall not receive the vote of the person so challenged until the person signs and gives to the moderator [an] a challenged voter affidavit [in the following form: I, , do solemnly swear (or affirm) under penalties of voter fraud, that I am the identical person whom I represent myself to be, that I am a duly qualified voter of this town (or ward), and have a legal domicile therein. My telephone number (requested but optional) is _, and my email address (requested but optional) is _]. If the moderator determines that the challenge is not well grounded, the moderator shall permit the voter to proceed to vote.

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