allowing the processing of absentee ballots.

SB 537 proposes changes to New Hampshire absentee voting procedures by allowing election officials to open outer envelopes and partially process ballots before Election Day. Under the bill, clerks and moderators could schedule specific times in the three weeks prior to an election to open envelopes, check for errors, and contact voters to fix issues, provided they post public notice at least five days in advance. The legislation also expands the types of reasons a voter can cite on their application to include working on election day or caring for children or infirm adults. Additionally, the bill updates the standard text on return envelopes to clarify that ballots must be sealed in an inner envelope before being placed in the outer return envelope.