HB 1382 · 2026 · House · Election Law Committee
Citizenship proof for overseas voters
AI-generatedrelative to proof of citizenship for overseas voters voting under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.
Requires overseas voters registering under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, except military members and their families, to submit one-time proof of United States citizenship to the secretary of state before voting in New Hampshire elections.AI-generated
Status
Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · February 5, 2026- ✓Introduced
- ✕House
- Senate
- Governor
- Law
Analysis
This bill requires proof of citizenship for certain overseas voters voting under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.
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
“"UOCAVA voter" means an individual eligible to vote in New Hampshire under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. sections 20301–20311).”
“Beginning January 1, 2027, all UOCAVA voters, except military members and their families, seeking to register or maintain voter registration in New Hampshire shall submit proof of citizenship one time to the secretary of state.”
“The secretary of state shall notify all registered non-exempt UOCAVA voters of the new citizenship verification requirement by October 1, 2026, via email, mail, or other means consistent with UOCAVA communication protocols.”
“The secretary of state shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, necessary to implement this act, including procedures for document submission, verification, voter notification, and identification of military members and their families for exemption purposes.”
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
- Rep. JD BernardyRClerk· Science, Technology and Energy
- Rep. Sayra DeVitoRClerk· Fish and Game and Marine Resources
- Rep. Robert WherryRChair· Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy
Also: Rep. Mary FordR, Rep. Lori KorzenR, Rep. Melissa LitchfieldR, Rep. Mary MurphyR, Rep. Susan PorcelliR, Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreR
Public testimony
319 signed in online · 74 wrote testimony
1% support99% oppose0% neutral
AgainstUnnecessary; overseas voting already secure, no fraud evidence
AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.
Read the argumentsIn their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted
“I have worked with the UOCAVA process and I actually think it needs some work - but setting different standards for military and overseas civilians is not right. The rules should be the same.…”
“Stop putting up new and unnecessary barriers to voting for citizens who already qualify under federal law.”
“This bill penalizes our overseas military and citizens by requiring documentation to prove citizenship. Upon joining the military, that documentation has been provided and citizenship has been proven, thus this Bill 1382 costs the government money to document, again, residents.…”
Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.
Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026
Votes
yeanay- Jan 27, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate15–0Overall100% yea
- Feb 5, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted
Hearings and debates
- Jan 27, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law1:16:58–1:20:223m 24slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Public Hearing; Executive Session
- Feb 5, 2026Floor 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
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Election Law HJ 1 P. 18
- Jan 27, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/27/2026 10:40 am GP 158
- Jan 27, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/27/2026 10:40 am GP 158
- Jan 27, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 01/27/2026 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 5 P. 6
- Feb 5, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/05/2026 HJ 3 P. 9
Coverage
No reporting linked yet.
Background reading
Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.
Ballotpedia — State-by-state survey, including New Hampshire's position outside the NVRA form requirement.AI-generated
Ballotpedia — What documentary proof means in practice and where the federal law lines fall.AI-generated
Brennan Center for Justice — The case against documentary requirements, with the evidence on how rare noncitizen registration is.AI-generated
Movement Advancement Project — A current map of which states require documents and which rely on attestation.AI-generated
Documents (PDF)
Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.