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HB 1600 · 2026 · House · Election Law Committee

Poll access to voter database

AI-generated

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

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

Status

Died on the table in the Senate · April 23, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires the secretary of state, town, and city clerks to ensure that each polling place in the state has access to the statewide centralized voter registration database on each state, local, and federal election day during the operating hours of that polling place.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill As Amended by the House (2nd committee). Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“The secretary of state [is authorized to] shall plan, develop, equip, establish, site, and maintain a statewide centralized voter registration database and communications system, hereinafter referred to as the voter database, connecting users throughout the state.”
RSA 654:45
“The voter database shall include the current information on the voter registration forms, the accepted absentee ballot applications, the voter checklists, and voter actions as recorded on the marked checklist maintained by each city, ward, and town in the state.”
RSA 654:45
“The database shall maintain addresses in accordance with United States Postal Service standardized addresses as described in the current USPS Publication 28.”
RSA 654:45
“The secretary of state shall provide for a verification process that voters sharing a place and date of birth, along with a substantially similar name to include nicknames or likely maiden/married name changes, are unique voters.”
RSA 654:45

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Matthew WilhelmDPrimeDemocratic Caucus Chair
  • Rep. Ross BerryRChair· Election Law

Public testimony

295 signed in online · 64 wrote testimony

99% support1% oppose0% neutral

ForDMV registration is a convenient modernization that saves time and reduces errors

AgainstGeneral opposition without detailed reasoning

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Allowing individuals to register to vote while also renewing or obtaining driver's licenses at the Division of Motor Vehicles would be a huge win for democracy.…”
— Patricia Goodlin, New Londonsupports
“Let's make voting EASIER for citizens moving to the Granite State. Support HB1600.”
— Alice Passer, Greenlandsupports
“We live in a democracy and we should be doing everything possible to make it easier for people to vote. There is very little voter fraud. But we do need to fight voter suppression and this bill will help with that.”
— Louise Ewing, Antrimsupports
“Broadly opposed. I prefer to enhance respect for franchise and voting privilege by insisting on a deliberate selective choice. This is too mcdonalds happy meal for me. Let the DMV do its job and not be co-opted into McSocialism.”
— tom luther, claremontopposes

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 10, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0626h (NT)16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2026-0626hadopted
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteFloor amendment 2026-0771h (Rep. Lane)adopted
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0626h and 2026-0771hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Mar 17, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1097h25–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2026-1097hadopted
  • Mar 26, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1097hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Apr 23, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Apr 23, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Apr 23, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Gray Moved Laid on Tableadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 20, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law4:08:36–4:22:5814m 22slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Jan 27, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law1:29:48–1:30:1830slocated in the stream transcript==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • Feb 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law3:37–4:441m 7slocated in the stream transcriptFull Committee Work Session
  • Feb 10, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law1:38:36–1:41:252m 49slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0626h (NT) — roll call; ==CONTINUED== Executive Session
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateHouse floor1:48:07–1:49:141m 7slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0626h and 2026-0771h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-0626h — adopted, voice vote; FLAM # 2026-0771h (Rep. Lane) — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 9, 2026Public hearingHouse Finance - Division I19:17–22:583m 41slocated in the stream transcriptDivision I Work Session
  • Mar 17, 2026Public hearingHouse Finance25:05–29:164m 11slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1097h; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1097h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-1097h — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 14, 2026Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs16:52–18:061m 14slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateSenate floor45:58–48:522m 54slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote; The Chair rescinded OT3rdg

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Election Law HJ 1 P. 27
  2. Jan 20, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/20/2026 01:20 pm GP 158
  3. Jan 27, 2026House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 01/27/2026 10:10 am GP 158
  4. Feb 3, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 02/03/2026 09:00 am GP 158
  5. Feb 10, 2026House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 02/10/2026 10:10 am GP 158
  6. Feb 10, 2026House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0626h (NT) 02/10/2026 (Vote 16-0; RC) HC 7 P. 31
  7. Feb 19, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0626h: AA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 67
  8. Feb 19, 2026HouseFLAM # 2026-0771h (Rep. Lane): AA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 69
  9. Feb 19, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0626h and 2026-0771h: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 70
  10. Feb 19, 2026HouseReferred to Finance 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 70
  11. Mar 9, 2026HouseDivision I Work Session: 03/09/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  12. Mar 17, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/17/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  13. Mar 17, 2026House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1097h 03/17/2026 (Vote 25-0; CC)
  14. Mar 26, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-1097h: AA VV 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 2
  15. Mar 26, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1097h: MA VV 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 2
  16. Mar 26, 2026SenIntroduced 03/26/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 7
  17. Apr 14, 2026SenHearing: 04/14/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 09:30 am; SC 14
  18. Apr 23, 2026SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass, 04/23/2026, Vote 5-0; SC 15
  19. Apr 23, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/23/2026; SJ 10
  20. Apr 23, 2026SenThe Chair rescinded OT3rdg, 04/23/2026; SJ 10
  21. Apr 23, 2026SenSen. Gray Moved Laid on Table, MA, VV; 04/23/2026; SJ 10
  22. Apr 23, 2026SenPending Motion OT3rdg; 04/23/2026; SJ 10

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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