Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
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HB 472 · 2025 · House · Election Law Committee

Proof of residency to vote

AI-generated

requiring voters to prove domicile.

Requires voters lacking proof of residency such as a utility bill, lease, or deed to be referred to the supervisor of the checklist, who determines eligibility to vote and whose denial may be appealed to superior court.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 requires the supervisor of the checklist to review proof of a voter's domicile before the voter is allowed 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

“If the voter does not have proof of residency/domicile consisting of a utility bill, lease, deed, or similar documentation of the voter's domicile address, the ballot clerk shall direct the voter to see the supervisor of the checklist.”
Section 1
“The supervisor of the checklist shall review the voter's qualifications and determine if the voter's proof of residency or domicile is valid.”
Section 1
“If the supervisor of the checklist determines that the voter's qualifications and identity are established, the voter shall be allowed to vote.”
Section 1
“If the supervisor of the checklist determines that the voter's qualifications and identity have not been established, the voter shall not be allowed to vote.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Kelley PotenzaRPrime
  • Rep. Ross BerryRChair· Election Law
  • Rep. Claudine BurnhamRClerk· Election Law
  • Rep. Katelyn KuttabRClerk· Judiciary
  • Rep. Robert WherryRChair· Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy
  • Rep. Judy AronRChair· Environment and Agriculture

Also: Rep. Aidan AnkarbergI, Rep. Glenn BaileyR, Rep. Melissa LitchfieldR, Rep. Linda McGrathR, Sen. Tim McGoughR

Public testimony

489 signed in online · 106 wrote testimony

12% support88% oppose0% neutral

ForStrengthens election integrity and voter eligibility

AgainstRegistered voters risk being turned away for lacking documents

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“It is not too much to ask that voters be require to prove domicile before being allowed to register to vote. This would eliminates the concept of a “provisional ballot."”
— Anthony Conte, Salemsupports
“HB 472 strengthens election integrity by requiring voters to prove domicile and eliminating provisional ballots. This ensures that only those with a legitimate, established connection to the community vote, preventing transient individuals from influencing local elections.…”
— Richard Horowitz, Portsmouthsupports
“I fully support this bill! Election integrity is of utmost importance”
— Irene Mcgonagle, Danvillesupports
“Ballot Clerks are there to check people in that are on the checklist. They are not to be asking for proof of residency. Residency has already been proven when the resident registered to vote.…”
— Belinda Yeaton, NHCTCA · NHCTCAopposes
“As a ballot clerk I can tell you without doubt this law would make managing elections impossible. The lines would be long and many legally registered voters would be turned away. Please oppose this bill”
— Marc Lacroix, Concordopposes
“I am a Supervisor of the Checklist in the town of Wolfeboro. We do NOT have a problem with this. You are making it more difficult to vote.”
— Rosemary Lounsbury, Wolfeboroopposes

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 Law3:25:05–3:28:223m 17slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 14, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law2:13:48–2:17:534m 5slocated in the stream transcriptSubcommittee Work Session; 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 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 3 P. 12
  2. Feb 11, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/11/2025 01:20 pm LOB 306-308
  3. Feb 14, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 02/14/2025 09:30 am LOB 306-308
  4. Feb 14, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/14/2025 09:30 am LOB 306-308
  5. Feb 18, 2025House: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/18/2025 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 17 P. 14
  6. Mar 26, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 21

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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