HB1484: requiring a forensic audit of the 2020 election results.

HB 1484-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2022 SESSION

22-2289

11/05

HOUSE BILL 1484-FN

AN ACT requiring a forensic audit of the 2020 election results.

SPONSORS: Rep. Baxter, Rock. 20; Rep. Ankarberg, Straf. 10; Rep. Johnson, Belk. 3; Rep. Littlefield, Belk. 3; Rep. Abrami, Rock. 19; Rep. Abramson, Rock. 37; Rep. Callum, Sull. 6; Rep. Sheehan, Hills. 23

COMMITTEE: Election Law

ANALYSIS

This bill requires a forensic audit of the 2020 general election and establishes a fund to cover the costs of conducting such an audit.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

22-2289

11/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two

AN ACT requiring a forensic audit of the 2020 election results.

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

1 November 2020 Election; Forensic Audit Required.

I. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint an independent third party to conduct a forensic audit of the general election that took place on November 3, 2020.

II. The audit required pursuant to paragraph I shall be completed no later than October 1, 2022.

III. The independent party conducting the forensic audit shall submit a report detailing the audit's findings, including anomalies or discrepancies in voter data, ballot data, or tabulation, to the speaker of house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2022.

2 Election Audit Fund.

I. There is established in the state treasury an election audit fund which shall be administered by the secretary of state. Any gifts, grants, and donations, including monetary contributions from non-governmental sources, shall be credited to the fund to cover the costs of the election audit required in this and any other election audits.

II. The secretary of state shall accept any gifts, grants, or donations to be credited to the fund and shall approve all requests for disbursement from the fund.

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

LBA

22-2289

Redraft 11/22/21

HB 1484-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT requiring a forensic audit of the 2020 election results.

FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2022

FY 2023

FY 2024

FY 2025

Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Expenditures

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

$0

$0

Funding Source:

[ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ ] Other

METHODOLOGY:

This bill requires a forensic audit of the 2020 general election and establishes a fund to cover the costs of conducting such an audit. The Department of State indicates they are unable to estimate the fiscal impact of the bill as the bill does not outline forensic auditor qualifications or specification for the audit. It also does not address the source of funds to cover the audit expenses other than creating a fund administered by the secretary of state to receive gifts, contributions and donations for that purpose. It is assumed general funds would be used to conduct the audit if gifts, contributions or donations to the election audit fund are not sufficient to cover the expenses associated with the audit.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of State