This bill amends existing laws regarding the filing process for candidates and the witnessing of affidavits in New Hampshire. It allows the secretary of state to serve as a filing official in towns where the clerk's office is not routinely open, specifically in cases where the clerk's office operates for fewer than three separate days or less than 18 hours per week. Additionally, the bill empowers town clerks to witness affidavits for candidates, regardless of whether they hold a notary public designation.

The specific legal language changes include the insertion of provisions that designate the secretary of state as an appropriate official for filing in towns with limited clerk hours and the empowerment of town clerks to witness affidavits without being notaries. The bill also maintains the requirement for candidates to file an affidavit of qualifications, which must be submitted to the secretary of state at the time of candidacy filing. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage and is projected to have a fiscal impact of less than $10,000 annually from 2025 to 2028.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 655:15, 655:28