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Bill would require periodic usability reviews of election forms and procedures, sponsor says
Summary
Representative Robert Wery told the committee HB 497 would ask the Secretary of State to evaluate voter checklist forms and other election procedures for usability, similar to human-factors reviews used in regulated industries, and suggested a periodic review every 3–5 years or sooner after statutory changes.
A bill before the House Election Law Committee would direct the Secretary of State's office to periodically evaluate the usability of election forms and procedures, the sponsor told the committee.
Representative Robert Wery introduced HB 497, saying the proposal borrows from human-factors engineering used in industries such as medical devices to ensure that forms and procedures are written in nontechnical, usable language and that election officials can complete them without undue time burden.
Wery pointed to RSA 6:52-22, which requires the election manual to be written in nontechnical language, as the only current statutory instruction to the secretary's office on form readability. "The idea behind this bill is very simple: allow the Secretary of State to periodically evaluate the forms for usability," he said, adding that the initial evaluation would be most intensive and subsequent reviews could follow a multiyear cadence or be prompted by statutory changes.
Committee members asked how often "periodically" would mean; Wery said an initial usability assessment followed by reviews every three to five years or sooner when statutes change would be typical practice in other regulated fields.
The bill's sponsor noted long lines at some polling places in the prior general election related to same-day registration and suggested better-designed forms and procedures could reduce delays.
The chair reported online testimony counts that varied in the meeting record; the committee closed the public hearing with no immediate vote.
Why it matters: Clear, usable forms and procedures can reduce errors, shorten processing time at polling places, and make it easier for local election staff to comply with statutory requirements.
What’s next: Committee staff may work with the sponsor and the Secretary of State's office to define review cadence, staffing needs, and whether the office requires new statutory authority or funding for usability testing and pilot projects.
