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SB 218 · 2025 · Senate · Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee

Absentee ballot ID requirements

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to absentee ballots.

Requires absentee ballot voters to submit information demonstrating citizenship, age, domicile, and identity, and removes the requirement that absentee ballots be placed in outer envelopes except when mailed to town or city clerks.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · August 4, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill removes the requirement that absentee ballots be placed in outer envelopes unless such ballots are mailed to town or city clerks. This bill also allows clerks to open outer envelopes to allow applicants time to cure defects.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. James GrayRPrimeChair· Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Public testimony

251 signed in online · 44 wrote testimony

88% support12% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“The City and Town Clerks Association has come out in favor of any allowance to pre-process absentee ballots. This bill allows the Clerks/moderators the ability to choose to do so therefore we support this legislation.”
— Joan Dargie, Milford · NH City and Town Clerks Associationsupports
“I support SB 218 which would help speed up Election Day results and allow applicants time to cure defects in ballots. Free and fair elections must include a process which makes all voting, present or absentee, easy. That is what true democracy is after all.”
— Holley Daschbach, Exetersupports
“Please allow our clerks to process absentee ballots ahead of time. It is wise, a good use of time and silly not to”
— Ann Heffernon, Swanzeysupports
“I oppose this bill regarding confusing language regarding outer envelopes for absentee ballots.”
— Nancy Jerauld, Litchfieldopposes
“Creates unnecessary work and confusion around absentee voting - when to use an outer envelope and when not to. Unnecessary and deters folks from voting.”
— Dawson Winch, Bartlettopposes
“What is the purpose of changing this procedure, which just places more burden on Town Clerks to learn new laws? I oppose these changes.”
— Ian Rogers, Warneropposes

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2025-03-049:15 amSenate Election Law and Municipal AffairsLOB 103Public hearing
  • 2025-04-2210:00 amHouse Election LawLOB 306-308Public hearingrescheduled
  • 2025-04-2910:00 amHouse Election LawLOB 306-308Public hearingcancelled
  • 2025-05-2710:10 amHouse Election LawLOB 306-308Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 3
  2. Mar 4, 2025SenHearing: 03/04/2025, Room 103, LOB, 10:00 am; SC 11
  3. Mar 13, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 03/13/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 12
  4. Mar 13, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
  5. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 11 P. 113
  6. Apr 22, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/22/2025 10:40 am LOB 306-308
  7. Apr 29, 2025House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 04/29/2025 10:00 am LOB 306-308
  8. May 27, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 05/27/2025 10:00 am LOB 306-308
  9. May 27, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2407h (NT) 05/27/2025 (Vote 10-7; RC) HC 27 P. 19
  10. May 28, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  11. Jun 5, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-2407h (NT): AA VV 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 125
  12. Jun 5, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2407h: MA RC 192-149 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 128
  13. Jun 5, 2025SenSen. Gray Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of C, MA, VV; (In Recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  14. Jun 5, 2025SenPresident Appoints: Senators Gray, Lang, Perkins Kwoka; (In Recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  15. Jun 5, 2025HouseHouse Accedes to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Kofalt): MA VV 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 172
  16. Jun 5, 2025HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Berry, Qualey, Burnham, Guzofski 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 172
  17. Jun 16, 2025Sen==RECESSED== Committee of Conference Meeting: 06/16/2025, 09:12 am, Room 103, SH
  18. Jun 18, 2025Sen==RECONVENE== Committee of Conference Meeting: 06/18/2025, 09:02 am, Room 103, SH
  19. Jun 18, 2025SenConferee Change; Senator Rochefort Replaces Senator Perkins Kwoka; SJ 17
  20. Jun 19, 2025HouseConference Committee Report # 2025-2835c Filed 06/19/2025; House Amendment + New Amendment HJ 18 P. 7
  21. Jun 26, 2025HouseConference Committee Report 2025-2835c: Adopted, VV 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 7
  22. Jun 26, 2025SenConference Committee Report # 2025-2835c, Adopted, VV; 06/26/2025; SJ 17
  23. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 64
  24. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  25. Aug 1, 2025SenSigned by the Governor on 08/01/2025; Chapter 0298; Effective 09/30/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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