HB 523-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2021 SESSION
21-0757
11/08
HOUSE BILL 523-FN
AN ACT requiring a person who registers to vote without any identification to have his or
her photo taken before his or her registration to vote is complete.
SPONSORS: Rep. Gay, Rock. 8; Rep. M. Pearson, Rock. 34; Rep. Janigian, Rock. 8; Rep. Love,
Rock. 6; Rep. W. MacDonald, Rock. 5; Rep. Cushman, Hills. 2; Rep. Elliott, Rock.
8; Rep. Sweeney, Rock. 8; Rep. Prudhomme-O'Brien, Rock. 6; Rep. Doucette, Rock.
8
COMMITTEE: Election Law
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires voters who register to vote by using a qualified voter affidavit or sworn
statement on the election day registration form instead of other approved identification to have their
photograph taken at the time of registration.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
 HB 523-FN - AS INTRODUCED
21-0757
11/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty One
AN ACT requiring a person who registers to vote without any identification to have his or
her photo taken before his or her registration to vote is complete.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 1 New Paragraph; Elections; Determining Qualifications of Applicant; Photograph Required.
2 Amend RSA 654:12 by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph:
3 III-a. The supervisors of the checklist, town or city clerk, or election day official shall take a
4 photograph of any person who registers using a qualified voter affidavit or sworn statement on the
5 general election day registration form. Such photograph shall be retained in the same manner as
6 qualified voter affidavits pursuant to RSA 33-A:3-a, CXLI(e).
7 2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
 LBA
21-0757
1/8/21
HB 523-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT requiring a person who registers to vote without any identification to have his or
her photo taken before his or her registration to vote is complete.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None
Estimated Increase / (Decrease)
STATE: FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024
Appropriation $0 $0 $0 $0
Revenue $0 $0 $0 $0
Expenditures $0 $33,000 $0 $3,300
Funding Source: [ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ ] Other
LOCAL:
Revenue $0 $0 $0 $0
Expenditures $0 Indeterminable Indeterminable Indeterminable
METHODOLOGY:
This bill requires the supervisors of the checklist, town or city clerk, or election day official to
take a photograph of any person who registers using a qualified voter affidavit or sworn
statement on the general election day registration form. Such photograph shall be retained in
the same manner as qualified voter affidavits pursuant to RSA 33-A:3-a, CXLI(e).
The Department of State indicates this bill would require that a Polaroid style camera and film
be purchased by the state for each of 330 polling places. The Department estimates each camera
would cost $80 and film for each camera would cost $20. Replacement film would cost $10 for
each camera. Total expenditure for FY 2022 is estimated at $33,000 (330 cameras x $100 cost
per camera including film). Total expenditure for FY 2024 for replacement film is $3,300 (330
cameras x $10 for replacement film).
The New Hampshire Municipal Association states this bill could result in a small expenditure if
municipal officials do not already have a camera available for such purpose. It is unknown how
many municipalities, if any, would be affected, so any additional municipal expenditures are
indeterminable. There is no expected impact on municipal revenues.
It is assumed this bill would be effective July 1, 2021.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of State and New Hampshire Municipal Association


Statutes affected:
Introduced: 654:12
Ought to Pass: 654:12
latest version: 654:12, 659:13