Bill Text: NH HB249 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relative to showing a ballot.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-03 - Lay HB 249 on Table (Rep. Shurtleff): Motion Adopted Regular Calendar 202-150 01/03/2018 House Journal 1 P. 62 [HB249 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2018-HB249-Introduced.html

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HB 249 - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2017 SESSION

17-0501

03/04

 

HOUSE BILL 249

 

AN ACT relative to showing a ballot.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Vaillancourt, Hills. 15; Rep. Hoell, Merr. 23

 

COMMITTEE: Election Law

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill reverses changes made to the prohibition on showing a ballot that were enacted in the 2014 regular legislative session.

 

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

17-0501

03/04

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen

 

AN ACT relative to showing a ballot.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Showing or Specially Marking a Ballot.  Amend RSA 659:35 to read as follows:

659:35  Showing or Specially Marking Ballot.

I.  No voter shall allow his or her ballot to be seen by any person with the intention of letting it be known how he or she is about to vote [or how he or she has voted] except as provided in RSA 659:20.  [This prohibition shall include taking a digital image or photograph of his or her marked ballot and distributing or sharing the image via social media or by any other means.]

II.  No voter shall place a distinguishing mark upon his or her ballot nor write in any name as the candidate of his or her choice with the intention of thereby placing a distinguishing mark upon the ballot.

III.  No voter shall use or attempt to use any ballot not given him or her by the ballot clerk to accomplish any of the acts or purposes prohibited by paragraph I or II or both.

IV.  Any person willfully violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a violation.

[V.  Before each state election, the secretary of state shall prepare and distribute to the town and ward clerks a sufficient number of posters measuring 8- 1/2 inches by 11 inches highlighting the provisions of paragraphs I through IV.

VI.  Each town and ward clerk shall prominently post the posters referred to in paragraph V at each polling place in his or her town or ward.]

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect January 1, 2018.