This bill seeks to tighten voter identification requirements in New Hampshire by amending RSA 654:12 to specify acceptable forms of documentation for proving citizenship, age, domicile, and identity when registering to vote. It eliminates the use of voter affidavits as a form of proof and repeals procedures for affidavit ballots. The bill also revises RSA 654:7, detailing the standardized voter registration form and the process for resolving disputes over voter registration qualifications. Additionally, it outlines the coordination between state agencies for real-time verification of applicant data on election day and establishes the secretary of state's responsibility for training election officials.

The bill further addresses the process of challenging a voter's eligibility at the polls, the handling of ballots when qualifications are in question, and the recording of challenges and their outcomes. It repeals and reenacts sections of RSA 659:13 and RSA 659:32, related to voters without valid photo identification and the recording of challenges, respectively. Moreover, the bill amends RSA 5:6-d, III, removing a cross-reference related to election funds and appropriates a sum of $1 to the secretary of state for determining voter qualifications. It also discusses the fiscal impact on local expenditures due to the requirement for secure ballot preserving containers and the indeterminable costs associated with procuring reusable containers for federal election ballots. The bill is set to take effect upon its passage, with financial impacts expected to begin in FY 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 659:97
As Amended by the Senate: 5:6-d, 659:13