Bill > HB1382

This bill establishes the New Hampshire UOCAVA Voter Citizenship Verification Act of 2026, which requires most overseas voters (covered under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act or UOCAVA) to submit proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in New Hampshire elections, starting January 1, 2027. The bill exempts military members and their families from this requirement and defines acceptable proof of citizenship as documents like U.S. passports, birth certificates, Certificates of Citizenship, and Naturalization Certificates. The New Hampshire Secretary of State is tasked with notifying affected voters by October 1, 2026, developing educational materials about the new process, and creating a secure method for voters to submit their citizenship documentation electronically or by mail. Voters who do not provide acceptable proof of citizenship will be unable to cast ballots after January 1, 2027. The bill emphasizes that its implementation must be consistent with federal voting rights laws and should not deny or abridge the voting rights of UOCAVA voters. The act will take effect 60 days after its passage, with the Secretary of State required to adopt rules to implement the new citizenship verification process.

Government Affairs

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=2375&inflect=2