The bill comes after former Gov. Chris Sununu signed House Bill 1569 into law in 2024, requiring that voters produce hard copies of their citizenship documents in order to newly register in the state — with no exceptions. That law replaced the previous system in which new registrants could sign an affidavit attesting to their citizenship under penalty of perjury. HB 1569 is facing two federal lawsuits; those lawsuits are expected to be heard in federal district court in early 2026.
The bill would also create a process for people who want to obtain copies of their documents but cannot afford to do so. If a resident is found to be indigent, the city or town “may” provide a voucher to cover the costs of recovering the birth certificate, passport, or other qualifying document, the bill states. If a municipality does provide that voucher, the secretary of state would be required to reimburse the cost. The latest version of the bill directs that $50,000 in state funds be available to do so. Republicans say the bill should assuage critics who say the new law will punish people who do not have passports and birth certificates.
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The Civil Historian