relative to photo identification cards issued solely for the purpose of voting.
Summary
SB 660 makes a targeted change to New Hampshire’s photo identification card process for people who need an ID only to vote. Under current law, a person who lacks acceptable identification for voting can obtain a voucher from a town or city clerk to waive the $20 identification card fee, and the state pays the actual cost of issuing the card from the election fund. This bill keeps that basic structure but removes the secretary of state as an alternate source for the voucher, leaving town and city clerks as the place to obtain it.
The bill also preserves the requirement that these state-paid cards be used only for voter identification purposes and be marked accordingly. It does not change the underlying voter ID requirement, the fee amount for ordinary identification cards, or the existing exemptions for people who turn in a driver’s license for health reasons or, as defined in the statute, age over 65. The measure takes effect 60 days after passage.
Impact
SB 660 amends RSA 260:21, V, which governs the issuance and fee structure for state identification cards. Its practical effect is to narrow the voucher-issuing process for fee-exempt voter identification cards by deleting the secretary of state from the list of officials who may provide the voucher. The bill continues to direct payment for these voter-only cards from the election fund under RSA 5:6-d and maintains the statutory labeling and use restriction for cards issued solely for voting.
Sentiment
The available record shows little overt controversy or debate: there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes included, and the bill appears to have been adopted by both bodies. The overall posture of the legislation is administrative and procedural rather than ideological, suggesting general acceptance of a modest clarification to the voter ID card process. The absence of recorded opposition in the provided materials points to a largely neutral or favorable reception.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the change in who may issue the fee-waiver voucher. By removing the secretary of state from the process, the bill centralizes voucher access with local town and city clerks, which may be viewed as simplifying administration or, conversely, as reducing flexibility for voters who seek assistance from state-level election officials. Another possible issue is the broader voter identification framework itself, since the bill continues to support a voter-ID-only card system funded by the election fund, but the provided materials do not show active dispute over that policy.