19:31A-7. Signature comparison record and duplicate permanent registration and voting form; voter's signature; form of record

The commissioner of registration shall have printed on the back of the duplicate permanent registration and voting form a signature comparison record, which record shall have in the left-hand side one-half inch from the top, a line upon which the voter when registering shall place his signature. Directly underneath this line shall be printed the words "sample signature."

The signature comparison record shall be printed so as to leave a margin one and one-half inches on the left-hand side for the purpose of binding. The remainder of the space shall be ruled to provide a record of registrants' signatures as made for comparison purposes before receiving a ballot at any election. The form shall be sufficient to record signatures for a period of 20 years and shall be subdivided into seven columns.

At the top of the first column at the left-hand side shall appear the word "year." This column shall be approximately three-quarters of an inch wide.

At the top of the second column shall appear the abbreviation for the words "signature compared by." In this column the district election board official shall place his initials certifying that he has compared the signature of the voter placed in third column with the sample signature at the top of the signature comparison record. This column shall be approximately one-half inch in width.

At the top of the third column shall appear the word "primary." Upon the line in this column opposite the particular year the voter shall place his signature when voting in the primary election for the general election in the year as stated in the first column. This column shall be approximately three and one-fourth inches wide.

At the top of the fourth column shall appear the abbreviation of the words "signature compared by." In this column the district election board official shall place his initials certifying that he has compared the signature of voter placed in the fifth column, with the sample signature at the top of the signature comparison record. This column shall be approximately one-half inch in width.

At the top of the fifth column shall appear the word "general." Upon the line in said column opposite the particular year the voter shall place his signature when voting in the general election in the year as stated in the first column. This column shall be approximately three and one-fourth inches wide.

At the top of the sixth column shall appear the abbreviation of the words "signature compared by." In this column the district election board official shall place his initials certifying that he has compared the signature of voter placed in the seventh column, with the sample signature at the top of the signature comparison record. This column shall be approximately one-half inch in width.

At the top of the seventh column shall appear the words "any other election." Upon the line in this column opposite the particular year the voter shall place his signature when voting in any election other than a primary election for a general election or a general election. The signature shall be placed on the line opposite the year stated in the first column which corresponds with the year during which such other election shall be held. This column shall be three and one-fourth inches wide.

At the time the voter registers, in addition to obtaining the signature on the original and duplicate registration forms the commissioner of registration shall also require the registrant to sign the signature comparison record on the back of the duplicate registration form above the line below which are the words "sample signature."

The signature comparison record shall be in substantially the following form:

PLEASE PHOTOCOPY INSERTION L.1944, c. 230, p. 773, s. 1; L.1972, c. 82, s. 2, eff. July 5, 1972; L.1981, c. 434, s. 7; L.1982, c. 118, s. 7, eff. Aug. 25, 1982.