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SB 438 · 2026 · Senate · Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee

Voter database access at polling places

AI-generated

(Second New Title) relative to access to the centralized voter registration database on election days.

Requires the secretary of state and town and city clerks to ensure every polling place has access to the statewide centralized voter registration database during operating hours on election days.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 9, 2026
  1. Introduced
  2. Senate
  3. House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill enables the department of safety and the secretary of state to develop a process to share certain information regarding REAL ID applicants.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Rebecca Perkins KwokaDPrimeMinority Leader
  • Sen. Timothy LangRVice Chair· Election Law and Municipal Affairs
  • Rep. Connie LaneDRanking Member· Election Law
  • Rep. Laura TelerskiDDeputy Democratic Leader
  • Rep. Alexis SimpsonDDemocratic Leader

Public testimony

134 signed in online · 19 wrote testimony

96% support4% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

I support this bill relative to the sharing of data between the department of safety and the secretary of state for the purposes of verifying the accuracy of information in the centralized voter registration database.
Rozlyn Levine, Hopkintonsupports
The NH legislature has passed so many laws making it harder for citizens in our state to vote.
Debora Hatcher, Doversupports
This bill makes sense. Please support SB438. Thank you, Ruth Niven, Franklin, NH
Ruth Niven, Franklinsupports
there is too much monitoring and aggregating of private person information at the state and federal level.
james sullivan, bedfordopposes
The United States has a very very low rate of election fraud. Trump insisted after the election of 2020 that there had been massive fraud. Endless recounts and researches were done all over the country. A very minimal amount of fraud was found.
Anna Meigs, lyndeboroughopposes

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2026-01-209:00 amSenate Election Law and Municipal AffairsSH 122-123Public hearing
  • 2026-03-3110:00 amHouse Election LawGP 158Public hearing
  • 2026-05-0510:00 amHouse Election LawGP 158Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 1
  2. Jan 20, 2026SenHearing: 01/20/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 09:30 am; SC 2
  3. Mar 5, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0773s, 03/05/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 8
  4. Mar 5, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-0773s, AA, VV; 03/05/2026; SJ 5
  5. Mar 5, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-0773s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/05/2026; SJ 5
  6. Mar 12, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/12/2026 and referred to Election Law HJ 8 P. 114
  7. Mar 31, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 03/31/2026 10:40 am GP 158
  8. May 5, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 05/05/2026 10:00 am GP 158
  9. May 5, 2026House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1833h 05/05/2026 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 19 P. 12
  10. May 14, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-1833h: AA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 18
  11. May 14, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1833h: MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 18
  12. May 21, 2026SenSen. Gray Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 05/21/2026; SJ 13
  13. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  14. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  15. Jul 2, 2026SenSigned by the Governor on 07/02/2026; Chapter 249; Effective 07/30/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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