HB 385 · 2025 · House · Election Law Committee
Restoring voter ID exceptions
AI-generatedreestablishing 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- ✓Introduced
- ✕House
- Senate
- Governor
- Law
Analysis
This bill reestablishes exceptions for the requirement to present identification to vote.
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
“When determining the qualifications of an applicant, the supervisors of the checklist, or the town or city clerk, shall require the applicant to present proof of citizenship, age, and domicile, as provided in the following categories:”
“The applicant shall be required to produce appropriate proof of qualifications as provided in RSA 654:12 and fill out the form as prescribed in paragraph IV.”
“The provisions of this section and those of RSA 654:7-b shall be used as an additional procedure for voter registration.”
“A voter offering to vote at any state election may be challenged by any other voter registered in the town or ward in which the election is held, an election official, a challenger appointed by a political committee pursuant to RSA 666:4, or a challenger appointed by the attorney general pursuant to RSA 666:5.”
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
- 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 argumentsIn their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted
“HB1569 that passed during last year's session has caused nothing but confusion for voters and clerks.…”
“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.…”
“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.…”
“I strongly oppose this Bill. This Bill is more than 9,000 words of justifying fraud.…”
“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.…”
“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.”
Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.
Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026
Votes
yeanay- Mar 18, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate10–8Overall56% yea
- Mar 27, 2025HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted
Hearings and debates
- Feb 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law1:42:45–1:49:487m 3slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
- Feb 14, 2025Public hearingHouse Election LawWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSubcommittee Work Session
- Feb 21, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law2:03:10–2:05:262m 16slocated in the stream transcriptSubcommittee Work Session
- Mar 7, 2025Public hearingHouse Election LawWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSubcommittee Work Session
- Mar 14, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law13:19–14:271m 8slocated in the stream transcriptSubcommittee Work Session
- Mar 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law1:12:19–1:23:4711m 28slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Executive Session; Subcommittee Work Session
- Mar 27, 2025Floor debateHouse floor2:05:14–2:06:221m 8slocated in the stream transcriptInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote
Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.
Legislative history
- Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 3 P. 7
- Feb 11, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/11/2025 11:20 am LOB 306-308
- Feb 14, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 02/14/2025 09:30 am LOB 306-308
- Feb 21, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 02/21/2025 09:30 am LOB 302-304
- Mar 7, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 03/07/2025 01:00 pm LOB 306-308
- Mar 14, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 03/14/2025 09:00 am LOB 306-308
- Mar 18, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/18/2025 10:00 am LOB 306-308
- Mar 18, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 03/18/2025 09:00 am LOB 307
- Mar 18, 2025HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 03/18/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 17 P. 56
- Mar 19, 2025HouseMinority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0656h
- 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.