House Election Law Committee Holds Hearings on Sweeping Legislation to Make Absentee Voting Out of Reach for Voters
For Immediate Release
February 25, 2025
Contact: McKenzie Taylor
603 491 6975
House Election Law Committee Holds Hearings on Sweeping Legislation to Make Absentee Voting Out of Reach for Voters
Concord, N.H. — Today, the New Hampshire House Election Law Committee held public hearings on bills that would limit access to absentee voting and add barriers to every step of the absentee voting process. This legislation includes House Bills 418, 608, 686, 217 and Senate Bill 213. HB418 would remove the eligibility to vote absentee from voters with religious commitments, child or other care responsibilities, or winter weather emergencies, while HB608, HB686, and SB213 would require copies of photo ID and notarization of absentee documents. HB217 and SB213 would require copies of proof of identity, domicile, and citizenship in order to register to vote absentee.
McKenzie Taylor, Director for the New Hampshire Campaign for Voting Rights, issued the following statement:
“The legislation proposed today is a blatant attempt at making absentee voting more difficult for Granite Staters, especially seniors, voters with disabilities, parents, caretakers, and working families. By even further limiting who is eligible to vote absentee, anti-voter politicians are attempting to disenfranchise voters who are unable to vote in person on Election Day. In addition, attempts to require absentee voters, many of whom are senior citizens or voters with disabilities, to submit color copies of their IDs and get documents notarized will make it more difficult, or in some cases impossible, for those voters to exercise their right to vote.”
“Absentee voting in New Hampshire is a secure, reliable process and should be open to anyone who needs it, without additional barriers. The New Hampshire Campaign for Voting Rights and our partners were glad to join disability rights advocates, election officials, working parents, and health care workers to oppose these unnecessary proposals that will make it more difficult for Granite Staters to participate in our democracy.”
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The New Hampshire Campaign for Voting Rights is a coalition of state and national advocacy organizations, voters, attorneys and watchdog organizations working to ensure and preserve the right to vote for every eligible Granite Stater, and is a project of America Votes New Hampshire.
