This bill mandates the Secretary of State to establish and maintain a uniform election records management system, as detailed in a new subdivision added to RSA 659. The system is required to accurately and completely record all information collected, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory standards. Key features of the system include the ability to capture both paper and electronic records, implement a uniform naming and indexing system, track record movement for auditing purposes, and allow efficient search and retrieval by authorized personnel, including New Hampshire citizens where legally permissible. The bill also outlines specific requirements for identifying document creation dates, purposes, and training needs.

The bill does not allocate funding or authorize new positions to support the implementation of this system. However, it is estimated that the necessary enhancements to the existing records management system could incur a one-time cost ranging from $200,000 to $500,000, with any fiscal impact expected to occur after FY 2026. The current system operated by the Department of State is limited to internal users and would require significant modifications to provide public access as mandated by the bill. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.