This bill mandates the commissioner of safety and the secretary of state to establish an agreement for sharing voter information from the department of safety to enhance the accuracy of the centralized voter registration database. The bill amends RSA 654:45, IV(b) to require that voter database records be verified by matching them with records from the department of safety and the federal Social Security Administration, as well as the state agency responsible for maintaining vital records. It specifies that linked agencies cannot retain voter information or use it for purposes beyond verification. Additionally, the bill clarifies that the department of state will not have direct access to motor vehicle records but can identify voter records with out-of-state driver's licenses.

Key changes in the bill include the requirement that the commissioner of safety "shall" authorize the release of necessary information for cooperation with the department of state, replacing the previous language that allowed for discretion with "may." Furthermore, the bill stipulates that the commissioner and secretary of state "shall" enter into an agreement regarding the services and costs associated with this data sharing, replacing the previous authorization language. The agreement must be reviewed at least every three years, and the department of safety is not obligated to provide services unless an agreement is in place and funds are available. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 654:25
As Amended by the Senate: 654:45
SB438 text: 654:25