This bill revises the absentee ballot voting process in New Hampshire by instituting new requirements for voters to provide documentation that verifies their citizenship, age, domicile, and identity. Voters must submit copies of the necessary documentation alongside their absentee registration affidavit, as outlined in RSA 654:12. If the required documentation is not provided, the absentee voting application will not be approved. Additionally, the bill introduces a new affirmation section for witnesses to confirm the identity of the applicant and the authenticity of the submitted documentation. Key insertions include the requirement for voters to provide their printed name and address on absentee ballot envelopes, and the clarification that absentee ballots returned in person do not need to be placed in outer envelopes.

The bill also removes the previous requirement for absentee ballots to be placed in outer envelopes unless mailed to town or city clerks, and modifies the verification process for in-person absentee voters, allowing them to be treated as verified if they present a photo ID or complete a challenged voter affidavit. It clarifies that signatures on absentee ballot applications will not be compared for verified voters, while those who do not meet identification requirements will have their signatures compared as usual. Other modifications include allowing voters or their assistants to mail the absentee ballot and affidavit within the outer envelope, and mandating clerks to attach the absentee ballot application to the outer envelope upon receipt. The act is set to take effect 60 days after passage, on September 30, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 657:7, 657:16, 657:17, 657:18, 659:50, 659:49-b
As Amended by the House: 654:17, 654:19, 657:17-a
Version adopted by both bodies: 654:17, 654:19, 657:17-a, 657:7, 657:16, 657:17, 657:18
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 654:17, 654:19, 657:17-a, 657:7, 657:16, 657:17, 657:18