Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
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HB 385 · 2025 · House · Election Law Committee

Restoring voter ID exceptions

AI-generated

reestablishing voter identification exceptions.

Reestablishes alternative methods, including affidavits and various forms of documentation, for voters to prove citizenship, age, and domicile when registering or voting without standard identification.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 27, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill reestablishes exceptions for the requirement to present identification to vote.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Connie LaneDPrimeRanking Member· Election Law
  • Rep. Russell MuirheadDDeputy Ranking Member· Election Law
  • Sen. Rebecca Perkins KwokaDMinority Leader

Also: Rep. Timothy HorriganD

Public testimony

471 signed in online · 92 wrote testimony

82% support18% oppose0% neutral

ForHB1569's documentation requirements disenfranchise eligible voters

AgainstAffidavits and 'personal recognizance' invite fraud, undermine integrity

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“HB1569 that passed during last year's session has caused nothing but confusion for voters and clerks.…”
— Daniel Healey, Nashua · Nashua City Clerksupports
“Our current election system under HB1569 disenfranchises voters by creating unnecessary barriers to registration that will make lines longer and turns voters away. It undermines our communities by making it harder for people to participate in the democratic process.…”
— Victoria Jeffay, Hanoversupports
“Thank you for protecting the right and responsibility to vote and support HB385--to reinstate the ability to register to vote by signing a sworn affidavit if the voter does not have physical proof of identity, age, citizenship, or domicile (address), or if they don’t have photo ID when they arrive at the polls to receive their ballot.…”
— Cora QUISUMBING-KING, Doversupports
“I strongly oppose this Bill. This Bill is more than 9,000 words of justifying fraud.…”
— Gordon Springate, Wiltonopposes
“No special rules, no exemptions. Transparency for all. Do NOT carve out exemptions that undermine the faith and credit of citizens in elections. A secure easily verified process retains the faith and credit in elections.…”
— tom luther, claremontopposes
“I strongly oppose this bill. If this passes, the integrity of our elections is essentially destroyed. Anyone who wants to vote should, at a minimum, be required to show a state ID with a picture to prove who they are and their New Hampshire residency. Period.”
— Jill Bouchillon, Keeneopposes

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2025-02-1110:30 amHouse Election LawLOB 306-308Public hearing
  • 2025-02-149:30 amHouse Election LawLOB 306-308Public hearingrescheduled
  • 2025-02-219:30 amHouse Election LawLOB 302-304Public hearing
  • 2025-03-071:00 pmHouse Election LawLOB 306-308Public hearing
  • 2025-03-149:00 amHouse Election LawLOB 306-308Public hearing
  • 2025-03-1810:00 amHouse Election LawLOB 306-308Public hearing
  • 2025-03-189:00 amHouse Election LawLOB 307Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 3 P. 7
  2. Feb 11, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/11/2025 11:20 am LOB 306-308
  3. Feb 14, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 02/14/2025 09:30 am LOB 306-308
  4. Feb 21, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 02/21/2025 09:30 am LOB 302-304
  5. Mar 7, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 03/07/2025 01:00 pm LOB 306-308
  6. Mar 14, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 03/14/2025 09:00 am LOB 306-308
  7. Mar 18, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/18/2025 10:00 am LOB 306-308
  8. Mar 18, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 03/18/2025 09:00 am LOB 307
  9. Mar 18, 2025HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 03/18/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 17 P. 56
  10. Mar 19, 2025HouseMinority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0656h
  11. Mar 27, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 31

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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