Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
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HB 172 · 2025 · House · Election Law Committee

Ending same-day primary registration

AI-generated

restricting undeclared voters from same-day voting in a presidential or state primary.

Eliminates same-day party registration for undeclared voters, preventing them from registering with a political party on the day of a presidential or state primary election in order to vote in that primary.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 26, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill restricts undeclared voters from registering with a party on the same day of a primary in order to vote in a presidential or state primary election.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as introduced. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“No application for a change of party affiliation shall be accepted on the day of a primary election, except as provided in RSA 654:34, I[ and II].”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. John SellersRPrime
  • Rep. John PotucekRVice Chair· Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Also: Rep. Mark PearsonR, Rep. Paul TerryR, Rep. Jose CambrilsR, Rep. Kevin VervilleR, Rep. Sheila SeidelR

Public testimony

648 signed in online · 204 wrote testimony

5% support94% oppose2% neutral

ForPrimaries should be reserved for genuine party members

AgainstDisenfranchises undeclared voters, NH's largest voting bloc

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Undeclared voters should declare a party well in advance before the state primary and not be able to return to undeclared until after the general election. This will make sure that voters who declare for a party are favorable to that party, and not voting to affect the outcome.”
— Barb Brennan, Hooksettsupports
“I am VERY opposed to this bill. VERY OPPOSED. I see no reason for it other than to put yet another obstruction in the way of citizens right to vote - and have a voice in each election.…”
— Cheri Bach, Portsmouthsupports
“I find the ability to jump and switch party affiliation to vote in primaries to be a strange and uncomfortable process. It looks and feels sketchy at best. I do NOT support one size fits all party single primary.…”
— tom luther, claremontsupports
“Simply put, this bill disenfranchises undeclared voters taking away their right to participate in Primary elections and also cause unnecessary confusion on election day.”
— Daniel Healey, Nashua · Nashua City Clerkopposes
“This bill further disenfranchises undeclared voters, who represent about 40% of all NH voters and who pay taxes to run state and presidential primary elections.”
— Bill Black, Hanoveropposes
“As an undeclared voter, who has voted in both part primaries in the past, this bill would stifle my voice and limit my ability to participate in the process of selecting representatives who I believe will best represent me.”
— Steve Brown, Doveropposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 18, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendarCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate17–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law4:08:55–4:16:047m 9slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law37:17–43:316m 14slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 2 P. 9
  2. Feb 11, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/11/2025 01:40 pm LOB 306-308
  3. Feb 18, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/18/2025 10:10 am LOB 306-308
  4. Feb 18, 2025House: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/18/2025 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 17 P. 12
  5. Mar 26, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 18

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.