HB 1382 - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-3163
08/09
HOUSE BILL 1382
SPONSORS: Rep. McGrath, Rock. 40; Rep. Bernardy, Rock. 36; Rep. DeVito, Rock. 8; Rep. Ford, Rock. 3; Rep. Korzen, Coos 7; Rep. Litchfield, Rock. 32; Rep. Mary Murphy, Hills. 27; Rep. Porcelli, Rock. 19; Rep. Sabourin dit Choiniere, Rock. 30; Rep. Wherry, Hills. 13
COMMITTEE: Election Law
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires proof of citizenship for certain overseas voters voting under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-3163
08/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Short Title. This act shall be known as the "New Hampshire UOCAVA Voter Citizenship Verification Act of 2026."
2 New Subdivision; UOCAVA Voter Citizenship Verification. Amend RSA 657 by inserting after section 26 the following new subdivision:
UOCAVA Voter Citizenship Verification
657:27 Purpose. The purpose of this act is to ensure the integrity of the electoral process by requiring Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) voters, except military members and their families, to submit proof of United States citizenship one time to be eligible to vote in New Hampshire elections, effective January 1, 2026.
657:28 Definitions. In this subdivision:
I. "UOCAVA voter" means an individual eligible to vote in New Hampshire under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. sections 20301–20311).
II. "Military member" means an individual serving as a member of the uniformed services, as defined in 52 U.S.C. section 20310, including active duty and reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or Space Force.
III. "Family of a military member" means the spouse or dependent of a military member, as defined in 52 U.S.C. section 20310.
IV. "Proof of citizenship" means a valid document establishing United States citizenship, including but not limited to a United States passport, birth certificate issued by a United States state or territory, Certificate of Citizenship, or Naturalization Certificate.
V. "Secretary of state" refers to the New Hampshire secretary of state or their designated representative.
657:29 Citizenship Verification Requirement for UOCAVA Voters.
I. Beginning January 1, 2027, all UOCAVA voters, except military members and their families, seeking to register or maintain voter registration in New Hampshire shall submit proof of citizenship one time to the secretary of state.
II. Military members and their families shall be exempt from the proof of citizenship requirement under this subdivision.
III. The secretary of state shall accept the following as proof of citizenship for non-exempt UOCAVA voters:
(a) A valid United States passport (copy of the identification page).
(b) A United States birth certificate issued by a state, territory, or authorized agency.
(c) A Certificate of Citizenship issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
(d) A Naturalization Certificate issued by USCIS.
(e) Other documents deemed acceptable by the secretary of state that establish United States citizenship under federal law.
IV. Proof of citizenship may be submitted electronically through a secure portal established by the secretary of state or by mail to the office of the secretary of state. The submission shall include the voter’s full name, date of birth, and New Hampshire voter registration details, if applicable.
V. The secretary of state shall verify the submitted proof of citizenship in accordance with federal and state guidelines. Upon verification, the voter’s record shall be updated to reflect compliance with this requirement.
657:30 Voter Notification and Education.
I. The secretary of state shall notify all registered non-exempt UOCAVA voters of the new citizenship verification requirement by October 1, 2026, via email, mail, or other means consistent with UOCAVA communication protocols. Military members and their families shall be notified of their exemption from this requirement.
II. The secretary of state shall develop and distribute educational materials, including online resources, explaining the citizenship verification process, acceptable documents, submission deadlines, and the exemption for military members and their families. These materials shall be available in English and other languages as required by federal law.
III. The secretary of state shall provide assistance to non-exempt UOCAVA voters to facilitate compliance, including technical support for electronic submissions and guidance on obtaining acceptable documentation.
659:31 Compliance and Enforcement.
I. No non-exempt UOCAVA voter shall be permitted to cast a ballot in a New Hampshire election after January 1, 2027, unless their proof of citizenship has been verified by the secretary of state or they qualify for the exemption under RSA 657:29.
657:32 Rulemaking. The secretary of state shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, necessary to implement this act, including procedures for document submission, verification, voter notification, and identification of military members and their families for exemption purposes.
657:33 Federal Compliance. This act shall be implemented in a manner consistent with the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. sections 20301–20311) and other applicable federal laws. Nothing in this act shall be construed to deny or abridge the voting rights of UOCAVA voters, including military members and their families, protected under federal law.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Dec. 4, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Election Law