relative to proof of United States citizenship for indigent voters.
Summary
HB 365 establishes a new process for verifying the U.S. citizenship of a person seeking to vote when that person cannot provide documentary proof of citizenship. Under the bill, local election officials may ask the secretary of state to attempt verification using available in-state, out-of-state, and federal databases. If citizenship is confirmed, the local official records that verification on the voter’s application and the citizenship requirement is treated as satisfied.
The bill also creates an indigency-based voucher process for voters who say they cannot afford the cost of obtaining a birth certificate or equivalent proof of citizenship. If verification efforts fail, the voter may complete a financial affidavit, and if the person is found to be indigent under criteria set by the secretary of state, a clerk or the secretary may issue a voucher to cover the cost of obtaining the needed document. The secretary of state must reimburse municipalities for vouchers issued, and the bill appropriates $50,000 for that purpose for the biennium ending June 30, 2027.
Impact
HB 365 amends RSA 654:12 governing voter identification and proof of citizenship, adding a new paragraph that expands the role of local election officials and the secretary of state in citizenship verification. It creates a state-administered reimbursement mechanism for voucher costs and directs the secretary of state to develop forms and criteria for indigency determinations. The fiscal note indicates the bill would require additional state administrative resources and would have General Fund costs beyond the initial appropriation, while municipalities would receive reimbursement for voucher issuance.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have received substantial support in the House, passing on an OTPA vote of 195-141, suggesting a generally favorable but not unanimous view. The absence of committee transcript excerpts limits direct insight into debate, but the vote pattern indicates the measure was supported by a majority while drawing significant opposition. Overall, the sentiment around the bill is mixed: supportive of tightening citizenship verification while also providing a means for indigent voters to obtain documentation.
Contention
The main point of contention is the balance between election integrity measures and access to the ballot. Supporters likely view the bill as a practical way to verify citizenship without excluding voters who lack immediate documentation, while critics may be concerned that the added verification steps and documentation requirements could burden eligible voters, especially those with limited resources or time. Another area of concern is administration and cost: the Department of State fiscal note anticipates the need for additional staff and ongoing expenses, and it notes that the appropriation covers municipal voucher reimbursements but not all potential departmental costs.
Requiring students in the university and community college systems of New Hampshire to pass the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services civics naturalization test.
Enables election officials to verify the single use of an out-of-state driver's license presented when a person votes by using the centralized voter registration database.
Elections: registration; review of voter eligibility by the secretary of state; require under certain circumstances. Amends 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.1 - 168.992) by adding sec. 506b.
Relating to requiring a person to submit proof of citizenship to register to vote, including the eligibility of certain voters to vote a limited federal ballot if the voter cannot supply the required proof and the procedures for the counting of those ballots; creating criminal offenses.