SBElection 537-FNLaw -and ASMunicipal AMENDEDAffairs BYMarch THE19, SENATE2024 04/05/20242024-1238s 1238s08/06 SESSIONAmendment 24-3084to 08/10SB SENATE537-FN BILLAmend 537-FNthe ANbill ACTby allowingreplacing all after the processingenacting ofclause absenteewith ballots.the following:

SPONSORS:3 1 Absentee Voting;

Sen.

Soucy, Dist 18;

Sen.

Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21;

Rep.

Brennan, Merr.

9;

Rep.

Lane, Merr.

16 COMMITTEE:

Election Law and Municipal Affairs ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── AMENDED ANALYSIS This bill:

I.

Allows for the preprocessing of absentee ballots.

II.

Removes the requirement that absentee ballots be placed in outer envelopes unless such ballots are mailed to town or city clerks.

The bill also allows clerks to open outer envelopes to allow applicants time to cure defects.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

SB 537-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE 04/05/2024 1238s 24-3084 08/10 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four AN ACT allowing the processing of absentee ballots.

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

1 Absentee Voting;

Amendment to SB 537-FN - Page 2 - 3 New Section;

SB 537-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE - Page 2 - 659:55-a Partial Processing of Absentee Ballots Prior to an Election.

Amendment to SB 537-FN - Page 3 - 2) I am unable to vote in person due to disability.

SB 537-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE - Page 3 - 3) I am unable to vote in person due to observance of a religious commitment, which prevents me from voting in person.

If the applicant returns the required documents with the absentee ballot by the date set for correcting the checklist Amendment to SB 537-FN - Page 4 - under RSA 654:27 and RSA 654:28, the town or city clerk shall forward the registration forms to the SB 537-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE - Page 4 - supervisors of the checklist and, if the applicant is found to be qualified, the applicant shall be registered and his or her absentee ballot shall be processed in the same manner as the absentee ballot of a previously registered voter.

The moderator shall then [remove the envelope containing the ballots of each absentee voter and], for those absentee ballots where the absentee voter has not been verified by the clerk as SBAmendment 537-FNto -SB AS537-FN AMENDED BY THE SENATE - Page 5 - provided in RSA 657:17-a, [shall] compare the signature on the affidavit with the signature on the application for the ballot.

LBAAmendment 24-3084to AmendedSB 4/17/24537-FN SB- 537-FN-Page FISCAL6 NOTE- AS2024-1238s AMENDED BYANALYSIS THEThis SENATEbill: (AMENDMENT #2024-1238s) AN ACT allowing the processing of absentee ballots.

FISCALI. IMPACT:

[Allows ]for Statethe [preprocessing ]of Countyabsentee [ballots. ] Local [ X ] None METHODOLOGY:

TheII. Office of Legislative Budget Assistant states this bill, as amended by the Senate, has no fiscal impact on state, county and local expenditures or revenue.

AGENCIESRemoves CONTACTED:the requirement that absentee ballots be placed in outer envelopes unless such ballots are mailed to town or city clerks.

DepartmentThe ofbill Statealso andallows Newclerks Hampshireto Municipalopen Associationouter envelopes to allow applicants time to cure defects.