HB 508-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2023 SESSION

23-0686

08/10

HOUSE BILL 508-FN

AN ACT relative to the payment of postage on absentee ballot return envelopes.

SPONSORS: Rep. Wheeler, Hills. 33; Rep. Harriott-Gathright, Hills. 10; Rep. Read, Rock. 10; Rep. Newell, Ches. 4; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10

COMMITTEE: Election Law

-----------------------------------------------------------------

ANALYSIS

This bill requires that absentee ballot return envelopes be sent out with pre-paid postage.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

23-0686

08/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three

AN ACT relative to the payment of postage on absentee ballot return envelopes.

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

1  Absentee Ballots; Postage Paid.  Amend RSA 657:7, III to read as follows:

III. Postage paid return envelopes of size sufficient to contain the preceding envelope addressed to the town and city clerks of the state in which absentee voters shall return their ballots. On the envelopes shall be printed "Enclosed is the ballot of an absentee voter" and, at the top thereof, 4 blank spaces with the words "Name, Voting Address, Ward, Town or City" appropriately printed thereon. The secretary of state shall be responsible for the cost of all postage paid envelopes under this section.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

LBA

23-0686

1/5/23

HB 508-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to the payment of postage on absentee ballot return envelopes.

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [    ] County               [    ] Local              [    ] None

METHODOLOGY:

This bill requires that absentee ballot return envelopes be sent out with pre-paid postage with the costs paid for by the Secretary of State.

The Department of State indicates in the November 2022 general elections, clerks sent out 62,709 absentee ballots with return envelopes.  The Department states they typically send out additional envelopes to clerks in the event of a higher than normal absentee turnout.  The Department estimates an average of 36,000 (about half of the amount of a general election) pre-paid postage envelopes for each primary election, 72,000 for each general election , and 144,000 (double the amount of a general election) for a presidential general election.  As of January 22, 2023, metered first class postage rate was $0.60.  The Department notes given historical trends show this postage rate will increase by an indeterminable amount each year.

• Multiplying the postage rate of $0.60 by 36,000 for the primary election will result in an increase cost of $21,600 in FY 2024 and FY 2025.  
• Multiplying the $0.60 postage rate by 144,000  for the presidential general election will result in an increase cost of $86,400 in FY 2025.

The Department states they would also incur additional indeterminable postage cost for any special elections or overseas voters.

It is assumed any fiscal impact will not occur until FY 2024.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of State