HB 1678-FN
requiring the secretary of state to accept voter registration forms directly from voters and to create an online portal for direct voter registration.
Official record at gencourt.state.nh.us ↗Open this bill in the searchable view → · Follow this bill by RSS
On the record
Quoted from the General Court bill status page, not worked out from the docket.
| Status | HOUSE |
|---|---|
| In the House | INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE |
| Introduced | 1/7/2026 |
| Floor date | 2/12/2026 |
| LSR number | 3200 |
| Local government impact | no |
| Committee code | H36 |
Where it stands
House: INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE
Every floor vote on this bill was a voice or division vote, so there is no record of how individual legislators voted.
Sponsors
Long, Patrick(D) Hills 26, Fenton, Donovan(D) Ches 10
Prime sponsor in bold. From the General Court sponsor file.
What happened
Every action recorded in the official docket, in order. Each line ends with the journal or calendar that recorded it; where we have the document, that citation links to it.
- January 7, 2026Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Election Law
- January 20, 2026Public Hearing: 01/20/2026 01:00 pm GP 158
- January 27, 2026Executive Session: 01/27/2026 10:10 am GP 158
- February 2, 2026Majority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 01/27/2026 (Vote 9-7; RC)
- February 2, 2026Minority Committee Report: Ought to Pass
- February 12, 2026Inexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/12/2026
Votes
Roll call tallies and individual votes from the General Court roll call files. Presiding, excused and absent are shown separately: one member presides over each House roll call and does not vote except to break a tie.
Inexpedient to Legislate
Decided on a voice vote. Only the outcome was recorded — there is no count of how any member voted.
Committee reports
Reproduced from the House Calendar in the committee’s own words.
Majority — INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE
While the goal of expanding voter registration options is well intentioned, the bill creates a new administrative layer at the state level that undermines New Hampshire’s long-standing, locally administered election system. The fiscal note shows significant and ongoing costs, including an estimated $637,000 in FY 2027 and continued annual expenditures thereafter, with no dedicated funding mechanism provided. Additionally, the Department of State has indicated that the proposed implementation timeline is not feasible given staffing, training, and technical requirements. The majority of the committee believes these costs and logistical challenges outweigh any potential benefit, particularly when existing voter registration processes are already accessible and functional. Vote 9-7.
Minority — OUGHT TO PASS
This bill makes registering to vote easier and will bring NH into the 20th century by joining 42 states that allow this type of registration. Specifically, this bill will allow new voters to submit all of their documentation – proving identity, age, US citizenship, and NH domicile – via a secure online portal operated by the Secretary of State’s office. The Secretary of State’s office will then forward to the appropriate municipal clerk who will verify the documents and update the voter checklist. These voters will submit the same documents as they would for in-person registration. These documents will be reviewed by the clerk in the exact same manner as they would for in-person registration. The minority recommends Ought to Pass in order to improve voter access without harming election integrity.
Hearings and recordings
Recordings are the General Court’s own, on YouTube. Start times are estimates unless stated otherwise, and the player opens early.
- January 20, 2026 at 13:00Election Law public hearing recording 3:46:58–4:01:16, about 14 min (estimated)
- January 27, 2026 at 10:10Election Law executive session recording 0:36:30–0:37:00, about 0 min (estimated)
- February 12, 2026House floor debate recording (start time not identified)
Page generated 2026-09-03 from data published by the New Hampshire General Court. Granite Record is an independent project, not affiliated with the General Court. The official record always takes precedence. Corrections: [email protected]