NH Voter Rights
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Is your vote being counted? Learn how the basic right to free and fair elections is being infringed upon, right here in New Hampshire. Democrats are speaking out against ongoing assaults on our basic right to cast a ballot!
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New laws restrict your access to the ballot box
by Bob Perry, August 2026
So you think you know how to vote in the fall elections? You may not. New laws restrict your access to the ballot box. When registering to vote for the first time, proof of citizenship is required. Therefore, if you already vote, you have already proven citizenship.
Prior to November 11, 2024, a voter could sign a sworn affidavit to prove citizenship in lieu of documentary proof. However, all sworn affidavits for voting were repealed when Gov. Sununu allowed passage into law of HB 1569; so elections held after November 11, 2024, and before May 29, 2026, required documentary proof of citizenship. If none were provided, that person was not allowed to vote. Period. Constitutional right denied.
The new and restrictive voting law, above, was challenged in federal court by multiple plaintiffs, including Coalition for Open Democracy (Open Democracy), a voting rights advocacy organization based in Concord, suing David Scanlan in his capacity as secretary of state (SOS).
The federal district court (a one-judge appeals court) ruled in favor of plaintiffs on May 29, 2026, concluding the new law is unconstitutional, in that it places an undue burden on voters to participate in a fundamental, constitutional right. The judge, Elliott, J., ordered the SOS to reinstate a sworn affidavit option to prove citizenship to establish qualification to vote. This is not a whimsical piece of paper with no consequences. As originally, the reinstated sworn affidavit, when utilized by a voter, is done so under the pains and penalties of perjury.
HOWEVER, the state has appealed the lower federal court ruling to the federal district court of appeals (a three-judge panel). That appeal is pending as of mid-August.
To be clear, a voter has a current right (as of mid August) to utilize the use of the sworn affidavit to prove citizenship in our fall elections, and armed with that knowledge, arrive at the polling place able to defend their right against anyone who questions it.
Know that all other documents needed to prove AGE, IDENTITY AND DOMICILE continue to be required. See link at bottom for those qualifying documents.
Given the myriad of uncertainties - from federal manipulation in our electoral process, to include a failed Trump attempt to harness control over the U.S. Postal Service to deny ballot delivery to voters, the confusion over what is needed to vote, it is of great importance that voters prepare now to VOTE IN PERSON, and properly prepared. Doing so will eliminate many complexities: 1) New law (HB 287) complicating access to absentee-ballot applications; 2) Trump's election interference to include voting by mail.
Elections across the country are fair and accurate, conducted locally by people we know, our trusted friends and neighbors. We cannot trust the Trump administration not to interfere in state elections. His actions are already well under way. Trump's efforts to avoid accountability at multiple levels of crime and corruption never before committed in American history by a President of the United States includes his option to commit election fraud at state or federal levels.
SUGGESTIONS:
1) Obtain and assemble documents now that are necessary to vote: proof of AGE, CITIZENSHIP (but knowing by court order you may prove citizenship through sworn affidavit if such proof is not readily available to you), IDENTITY, DOMICILE (ACID). See easy-to-understand graph at link at bottom to know what documents qualify. Information is provided by the voting-rights advocates at Open Democracy.
2) Adjust your schedule now to be able to vote in person;
3) Important! Check your voter registration status at https://app.sos.nh.gov/viphome or with our town clerk weeks in advance of the elections to resolve any issues that could prevent you from voting. Some issues may take time to resolve.
Strafford Town Clerk link: https://strafford.nh.gov/election-information-voter-registration/
Contains sample ballots, dates of the elections, including times and places, critical deadlines, and much more valuable information to assist the voter.
4) A passport does not, by itself, prove citizenship when a voter's name does not match their name listed on the voter rolls;
5) Read the August issue of the Strafford Community Calendar, pages 3 and 4 for Clerk Terri Marsh's updates on voting; http://www.straffordcommunitycalendar.com/index.html
(6) REAL Id. does NOT prove citizenship to vote. It DOES NOT. This is a widespread misunderstanding.
7) Student IDs can no longer be used as proof of identity for voting (signed into law by Gov. Ayotte (HB 323). It is currently being challenged in court by Open Democracy. NHPR reporting: https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2026-08-12/lawsuit-challenges-repeal-of-student-ids-for-voting-in-nh
8) Prior law required ten-year purging of names from the voter rolls if one had not voted in the prior 10 years. However, the law has changed. There are now annual purges of voters who have not voted in the prior 5 years. (HB 221).
9) There is no single document that proves all that is necessary to vote in New Hampshire. Once again, see helpful graph and other information at link at bottom.
10) Before the election, review the sample ballot. You may print same, because you may take it into the voting booth to reference as you fill in the official-ballot ovals. Do not leave it in the booth. Unfortunately, a high percentage of voters do not fill in the ovals all the way to the bottom. Know your candidates. Their names should not be introduced to you for the first time in the booth. Vote from bottom to top of ballot to give down-ballot candidates a fair shake.
10) Be an informed voter. Know your rights and responsibilities under ever-changing, and ever more unnecessarily restrictive voting laws.
So you think you know how to vote in the fall elections? You may not. New laws restrict your access to the ballot box. When registering to vote for the first time, proof of citizenship is required. Therefore, if you already vote, you have already proven citizenship.
Prior to November 11, 2024, a voter could sign a sworn affidavit to prove citizenship in lieu of documentary proof. However, all sworn affidavits for voting were repealed when Gov. Sununu allowed passage into law of HB 1569; so elections held after November 11, 2024, and before May 29, 2026, required documentary proof of citizenship. If none were provided, that person was not allowed to vote. Period. Constitutional right denied.
The new and restrictive voting law, above, was challenged in federal court by multiple plaintiffs, including Coalition for Open Democracy (Open Democracy), a voting rights advocacy organization based in Concord, suing David Scanlan in his capacity as secretary of state (SOS).
The federal district court (a one-judge appeals court) ruled in favor of plaintiffs on May 29, 2026, concluding the new law is unconstitutional, in that it places an undue burden on voters to participate in a fundamental, constitutional right. The judge, Elliott, J., ordered the SOS to reinstate a sworn affidavit option to prove citizenship to establish qualification to vote. This is not a whimsical piece of paper with no consequences. As originally, the reinstated sworn affidavit, when utilized by a voter, is done so under the pains and penalties of perjury.
HOWEVER, the state has appealed the lower federal court ruling to the federal district court of appeals (a three-judge panel). That appeal is pending as of mid-August.
To be clear, a voter has a current right (as of mid August) to utilize the use of the sworn affidavit to prove citizenship in our fall elections, and armed with that knowledge, arrive at the polling place able to defend their right against anyone who questions it.
Know that all other documents needed to prove AGE, IDENTITY AND DOMICILE continue to be required. See link at bottom for those qualifying documents.
Given the myriad of uncertainties - from federal manipulation in our electoral process, to include a failed Trump attempt to harness control over the U.S. Postal Service to deny ballot delivery to voters, the confusion over what is needed to vote, it is of great importance that voters prepare now to VOTE IN PERSON, and properly prepared. Doing so will eliminate many complexities: 1) New law (HB 287) complicating access to absentee-ballot applications; 2) Trump's election interference to include voting by mail.
Elections across the country are fair and accurate, conducted locally by people we know, our trusted friends and neighbors. We cannot trust the Trump administration not to interfere in state elections. His actions are already well under way. Trump's efforts to avoid accountability at multiple levels of crime and corruption never before committed in American history by a President of the United States includes his option to commit election fraud at state or federal levels.
SUGGESTIONS:
1) Obtain and assemble documents now that are necessary to vote: proof of AGE, CITIZENSHIP (but knowing by court order you may prove citizenship through sworn affidavit if such proof is not readily available to you), IDENTITY, DOMICILE (ACID). See easy-to-understand graph at link at bottom to know what documents qualify. Information is provided by the voting-rights advocates at Open Democracy.
2) Adjust your schedule now to be able to vote in person;
3) Important! Check your voter registration status at https://app.sos.nh.gov/viphome or with our town clerk weeks in advance of the elections to resolve any issues that could prevent you from voting. Some issues may take time to resolve.
Strafford Town Clerk link: https://strafford.nh.gov/election-information-voter-registration/
Contains sample ballots, dates of the elections, including times and places, critical deadlines, and much more valuable information to assist the voter.
4) A passport does not, by itself, prove citizenship when a voter's name does not match their name listed on the voter rolls;
5) Read the August issue of the Strafford Community Calendar, pages 3 and 4 for Clerk Terri Marsh's updates on voting; http://www.straffordcommunitycalendar.com/index.html
(6) REAL Id. does NOT prove citizenship to vote. It DOES NOT. This is a widespread misunderstanding.
7) Student IDs can no longer be used as proof of identity for voting (signed into law by Gov. Ayotte (HB 323). It is currently being challenged in court by Open Democracy. NHPR reporting: https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2026-08-12/lawsuit-challenges-repeal-of-student-ids-for-voting-in-nh
8) Prior law required ten-year purging of names from the voter rolls if one had not voted in the prior 10 years. However, the law has changed. There are now annual purges of voters who have not voted in the prior 5 years. (HB 221).
9) There is no single document that proves all that is necessary to vote in New Hampshire. Once again, see helpful graph and other information at link at bottom.
10) Before the election, review the sample ballot. You may print same, because you may take it into the voting booth to reference as you fill in the official-ballot ovals. Do not leave it in the booth. Unfortunately, a high percentage of voters do not fill in the ovals all the way to the bottom. Know your candidates. Their names should not be introduced to you for the first time in the booth. Vote from bottom to top of ballot to give down-ballot candidates a fair shake.
10) Be an informed voter. Know your rights and responsibilities under ever-changing, and ever more unnecessarily restrictive voting laws.
FEDERAL COURT PERMANENTLY BLOCKS NEW HAMPSHIRE'S DOCUMENTARY PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP VOTING LAW
May 29, 2026
Contact: Olivia Zink, [email protected], (603)-661-8621
CONCORD, NH — A federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire has permanently blocked enforcement of HB 1569, the sweeping 2024 law that imposed some of the most restrictive voter registration requirements in the country. The ruling is a major victory for New Hampshire voters and for the constitutional right to vote.
Open Democracy NH, as part of a broad coalition of voting rights organizations and individual voters, fought back against a law that systematically dismantled protections Granite State voters had relied on for years. HB 1569, signed by former Governor Chris Sununu in 2024, required voters to produce documentary proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, to register. For thousands of eligible New Hampshire residents, including young voters registering for the first time, those documents are not readily available.
The law also stripped away a longstanding protection that had allowed eligible voters whose qualifications were challenged at the polls to cast a ballot by swearing under penalty of perjury to their eligibility. Without that safeguard, eligible voters were turned away with no recourse.
The federal court ruled that these provisions place an unjustifiable burden on the right to vote in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, that they do little to further any legitimate state interest, and that they violate voters' right to procedural due process. The court permanently enjoined the state from enforcing these provisions in any future election, including this September's primary and November's general election.
"For nearly two years, voters across New Hampshire have faced confusion, frustration, and disenfranchisement under this law.” said Olivia Zink, executive director of Open Democracy NH. "This is a clear victory for voters. The court recognized what we have been saying all along: New Hampshire's elections can remain secure without putting unnecessary barriers between eligible voters and the ballot box."
The ruling carries particular significance for young voters heading to the polls for the first time. Open Democracy NH's work registering high school students across the state made the harmful impact of HB 1569 impossible to ignore. "It's a rite of passage to register to vote," said Sam Cassin, Open Democracy NH's High School Voter Registration Coordinator. "This decision helps thousands of eligible voters in New Hampshire register to vote and participate in our democracy."
New Hampshire has long maintained safe, secure, and accurate elections. Open Democracy NH will continue fighting to ensure that every eligible Granite State voter can participate in our democracy without unnecessary barriers or confusion.
###
Open Democracy is a nonpartisan, NH non-profit committed to political equality for all through fair redistricting, protecting the freedom to vote and voter-owned elections.
Contact: Olivia Zink, [email protected], (603)-661-8621
CONCORD, NH — A federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire has permanently blocked enforcement of HB 1569, the sweeping 2024 law that imposed some of the most restrictive voter registration requirements in the country. The ruling is a major victory for New Hampshire voters and for the constitutional right to vote.
Open Democracy NH, as part of a broad coalition of voting rights organizations and individual voters, fought back against a law that systematically dismantled protections Granite State voters had relied on for years. HB 1569, signed by former Governor Chris Sununu in 2024, required voters to produce documentary proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, to register. For thousands of eligible New Hampshire residents, including young voters registering for the first time, those documents are not readily available.
The law also stripped away a longstanding protection that had allowed eligible voters whose qualifications were challenged at the polls to cast a ballot by swearing under penalty of perjury to their eligibility. Without that safeguard, eligible voters were turned away with no recourse.
The federal court ruled that these provisions place an unjustifiable burden on the right to vote in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, that they do little to further any legitimate state interest, and that they violate voters' right to procedural due process. The court permanently enjoined the state from enforcing these provisions in any future election, including this September's primary and November's general election.
"For nearly two years, voters across New Hampshire have faced confusion, frustration, and disenfranchisement under this law.” said Olivia Zink, executive director of Open Democracy NH. "This is a clear victory for voters. The court recognized what we have been saying all along: New Hampshire's elections can remain secure without putting unnecessary barriers between eligible voters and the ballot box."
The ruling carries particular significance for young voters heading to the polls for the first time. Open Democracy NH's work registering high school students across the state made the harmful impact of HB 1569 impossible to ignore. "It's a rite of passage to register to vote," said Sam Cassin, Open Democracy NH's High School Voter Registration Coordinator. "This decision helps thousands of eligible voters in New Hampshire register to vote and participate in our democracy."
New Hampshire has long maintained safe, secure, and accurate elections. Open Democracy NH will continue fighting to ensure that every eligible Granite State voter can participate in our democracy without unnecessary barriers or confusion.
###
Open Democracy is a nonpartisan, NH non-profit committed to political equality for all through fair redistricting, protecting the freedom to vote and voter-owned elections.
