HB 1520 · 2026 · House · Election Law Committee
New Hampshire citizenship cards for voting
AI-generateddefining citizenship for the purposes of voting.
Defines New Hampshire and United States citizenship for voting purposes, requires the secretary of state to issue New Hampshire citizenship cards, and requires voters to present proof of state citizenship when registering.AI-generated
Status
Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · February 19, 2026- ✓Introduced
- ✕House
- Senate
- Governor
- Law
Analysis
This bill defines both New Hampshire and United States citizenship for the purposes of voting. This bill also requires the secretary of state to distribute New Hampshire citizenship cards to native citizens and those persons from other states who take an oath of allegiance to the state of New Hampshire.
From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.
In the bill's words
Quoted verbatim from the bill as introduced.
“"Citizen of this state" means a man or woman native born or a person naturalized as a citizen of the state of New Hampshire. III. "Naturalization" means the conferring of the nationality of a state upon a person after birth, by an oath of allegiance to the state of New Hampshire and the relinquishment of allegiance to any other state.”
The premise the bill rests on: a separate New Hampshire citizenship, acquired by birth or by an oath renouncing allegiance to other states.AI-generated
“NEW HAMPSHIRE CITIZENSHIP. The supervisors of the checklist, or the town or city clerk, shall accept from the applicant any one of the following as proof of New Hampshire citizenship: the applicant's birth certificate from the state of New Hampshire, or a New Hampshire citizenship card attesting to the voter’s birth in the state of New Hampshire or an oath of allegiance to the state of New Hampshire. A New Hampshire citizen cannot be a legal resident of any other state or federal territory.”
What a voter would have to produce at the checklist — a New Hampshire birth certificate, a citizenship card, or an oath.AI-generated
“The secretary of state shall provide a New Hampshire citizenship card which shall be provided to anyone meeting the following qualifications: (a) The person is not currently a legal resident of any other state or national from a federal territory; and (b) The person was born in New Hampshire as indicated by a New Hampshire birth certificate or the person, having not been born in New Hampshire, has taken an oath of allegiance to the state of New Hampshire. Any oath of allegiance taken must be given in person with the identity of the person clearly established.”
The card itself, and the in-person oath for anyone born elsewhere.AI-generated
“"Alien" means any person not a citizen of this state is a resident alien. A legal resident is alien to this state as they are citizens of another state or federal territory.”
The definition that drew the constitutional objection: a US citizen from another state is "alien to this state."AI-generated
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
- Rep. Claudine BurnhamRClerk· Election Law
Also: Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreR, Rep. Linda McGrathR, Rep. Mary FordR, Rep. Mary MurphyR, Rep. Alvin SeeR
Public testimony
2,451 signed in online · 1,285 wrote testimony
1% support99% oppose0% neutral
ForOnly citizens should be able to vote
AgainstOath of allegiance is authoritarian and un-American
AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.
Read the argumentsIn their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted
“I support this bill because only US and NH citizens should be allowed to vote in our elections.”
“It's an absolute no brainer that people should have to prove they are legal citizens and residents of New Hampshire in order to vote in our election. Any rep who opposes HB1520 is a corrupt individual who seeks to disenfranchise the legal votes of NH American Citizens.”
“I absolutely positively support this bill. Only American citizens should be able to vote in our elections.”
“This is just the stupid rethoric of the republican party. Having a real id should suffice not introducing another id for another specific purpose.…”
“This is a huge inconvenience for everyone. Citizens have identification already.”
“This is a terrible and costly bill. $2.5 million to undermine our democracy by making it yet harder to exercise our constitutional right to vote is the wrong direction for the Live Free state! Please ITL”
“People should vote in the State and Town in which they reside. I think the card idea is good but feel to get one you MUST prove residency in the State of New Hampshire and the Town in which you are casting votes. This would eliminate lines at the poles for people registering.…”
Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.
Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026
Votes
yeanay- Feb 3, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate15–0Overall100% yea
- Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted
Hearings and debates
- Jan 27, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law1:02:58–1:06:353m 37slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
- Feb 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law1:11:31–1:15:243m 53slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
- Feb 19, 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. 24
- Jan 27, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/27/2026 10:20 am GP 158
- Feb 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/03/2026 10:10 am GP 158
- Feb 3, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/03/2026 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 7 P. 10
- Feb 19, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 13
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.