Actions of the Week - Simple But Powerful Actions You Can Take
Team Member Toolkit
Actions for March 22-28
Action 1 - Email Legislators About Upcoming Bills
Full Legislative Action List here.
SB287 - requiring applicants for absentee ballots to present a copy of their photo identification with their application.
Senate Floor Vote: 3/27/2025
Location: State House
Link to Email Your Senator via UJoin
HB217 - relative to absentee ballots
House Floor Vote: 3/26/2025
Location: State House
Link to Email Your Representatives via Ujoin
HB385 - reestablishing voter identification exceptions
House Floor Vote: 3/26/2025
Location: State House
Link to Email Your Representatives via UJoin
CACR2 - relating to the drawing of district boundaries. Providing that no district boundaries shall be drawn in a way that favors or disfavors any political party or candidate.
HB363 - establishing redistricting criteria.
House Floor Vote: 3/25/2025 - 3/26/2025
Location: State House
Link to Email Your Representatives via UJoin
HB514 - allowing private persons to sue for violations of election laws.
House Floor Vote: 3/25/2025
Location: State House
Link to Email Your Representatives via UJoin
HB311 - relative to permissible campaign contributions by business organizations and labor unions
HB141 - relative to campaign disclosures for limited liability companies.
HB175 - relative to defined coordinated expenditures
House Floor Vote: 3/25/2025 - 3/26/2025
Location: State House
Link to Email Your Representatives via UJoin
Action 2 - Attend/host a viewing party for Rise up for Freedom trainings
We won’t let unelected billionaires go unchecked and dismantle our democracy. As we face the growing threat of autocracy in our country, it's more crucial than ever that we come together to build a stronger, more united movement for freedom and democracy.
To support this effort, we're excited to invite you to the Rise for Freedom Trainings
This series of weekly two-hour training sessions that will be held over the next 7-8 weeks. These sessions will explore how grassroots organizers like you can organize against the threats we face and build capacity for mobilization within your communities:
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- Thurs. March 27- 8-10 pm ET, 5-7 pm PT 1st Training: How did we get here? Intro to organizing under creeping autocracy
- Thurs. April 3 - 2nd Training: Building to a critical mass locally (outreach)
- Thurs. April 10 - 3rd Training: How to talk to people you might disagree with
- Thurs. April 17 - 4th Training: Making political violence backfire
- Thurs. April 24 - 5th Training: Mutual Aid & Structures for Stronger Local Organizing
- Thurs. April 1 - 6th Training: Advanced Strategic organizing skills
- Thurs. May 8 - 7th Training: Advanced Strategic organizing skills II
The content will be taught online, but the hope is that you will gather your community together in your living rooms, common rooms, libraries, etc., to participate in these trainings on organizing effectively in times of creeping autocracy. So be sure to invite your friends, family, and other members of your community to join you for the training!
There will be breakout sessions and activities where Zoom will be paused for you to do the exercises in each training in person together. For folks who are homebound, we encourage the use of Google Meet or other tools to gather a small group of people to do the breakout training exercises with so you still get the community-building element of the training.
Action 3 - LTE on the election law bills going to the House Floor
There are several bills going to the House Floor this that paint a clear picture about our legislators' priorities. Many of the bills that would improve our democracy (fair redistricting, campaign finance reforms, etc.) left the Election Law Committee with ITL recommendations along party lines (10 Rep - 8 Dem), while bills that would put up more barriers to voting (restrictions to absentee ballots) left the Election Law Committee with OTP recommendations along party lines (10 Rep - 8 Dem). It is important to spread awareness about how our elected officials are legislating, so consider submitting an LTE highlighting what our leaders are voting for and what those votes mean for New Hampshire voters.
Bonus: RSVP/Share Upcoming Events
High School Voter Registration Run a Drive Workshop
March 23, 2025 at 7:00pm
Join students, teachers, and volunteers across your state to help NH high school students register to vote before they graduate this spring!
Learn more & RSVP
Granite State Democracy Tour Keene
Mason Library, Keene State College
Saturday, March 29, 2025, 11 am - 1 pm
Join us when the Granite State Democracy Tour stops in Keene! See the knitted New Hampshire State House created by many NH citizens and explore artifacts from the Doris “Granny D” Haddock collection, including the sneakers she wore when she walked across the United States raising awareness about the influence of money in elections.
Speakers:
Olivia Zink, Executive Director, Coalition for Open Democracy
Eve Jacobs-Carnahan, organizer of Knit Democracy Together
Martha Madsen, Law Related Education Coordinator, NH Bar Association
Learn more & RSVP
Open Democracy Book Club: 100% Democracy
April 15, 2025 at 7pm
Please join Open Democracy Book Club on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at 7pm Eastern for a discussion of 100% Democracy: The Case for Universal Voting. Author Miles Rapoport will be joining us for the first half hour for discussion and Q&A.
Learn more & RSVP
Screening of "Unseen"
Red River Theater - Concord, NH
April 26, 2025 at 1pm (Doors open at 12:30pm)
The movie tells the story of Pedro, an aspiring social worker who faces restrictions as a blind, undocumented immigrant to get his college degree. But when attaining his dreams leads to new challenges, what will Pedro do? Using experimental cinematography, unseen reimagines film accessibility through an audio-centric experience.
At the conclusion of the movie, we'll hold a panel discussion about issues raised in the film and how they are impacting the disability and immigrant community in New Hampshire. Tickets coming soon.
Actions for March 15-21
Action 1 - Email Legislators About Upcoming Bills
Full Legislative Action List here.
SB287 - requiring applicants for absentee ballots to present a copy of their photo identification with their application.
Executive Session: 3/18/2025
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: Senate Election Law
Link to Email the Committee via UJoin
HB323 - requiring the presentation of a government-issued photographic means of identification in order to vote
Executive Session: 3/18/2025
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Email the Committee via UJoin
HB289 - regarding domicile qualifications for voting
Executive Session: 3/18/2025
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Email the Committee via UJoin
HB418 - relative to eligibility for absentee voting
HB217 - relative to absentee ballots
HB686 - requiring a voter to provide identification when requesting an absentee ballot.
Executive Session: 3/18/2025
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Email the Committee via Ujoin
HB618 - enables election officials to verify the single use of an out-of-state driver's license presented when a person votes by using the centralized voter registration database.
HB684 - preventing the use of student identification cards as a means to obtain a ballot.
Executive Session: 3/18/2025
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Email the Committee via Ujoin
HB385 - reestablishing voter identification exceptions
Executive Session: 3/18/2025
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Email the Committee via UJoin
Action 2 - Contact Your Federal Legislators and Ask Them to Hold a Town Hall
We want increased transparency and for all of our legislators to truly listen to the will of their constituents, so this week we are encouraging you to contact your federal legislators and ask them to hold a town hall.
Chris Pappas
Office addresses and phone numbers
Email Form
Maggie Goodlander
Office addresses and phone numbers
Email Form
Senator Jeanne Shaheen
(202) 224-2841
Email
Senator Maggie Hassan
(202) 224-3324
Email
Action 3 - Thank you to poll workers
If your town is one of the many municipalities around the state that held their town meeting election on Tuesday, March 11th, please take a few moments this week to send a thank you note to your election workers for making the day run smoothly. Also, with HB1569 now in effect many were turned away from the polls due to missing documents. Below are two surveys about how the election day experience was this time around. Hearing directly from impacted voters and election officials will strengthen our advocacy as we work to combat even more restrictive voting bills, so if you know of any please share the surveys with them.
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Voter Election Day Experience Survey – Encourage voters who faced challenges or barriers to report their experiences.
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Election Official Experience Survey – Election workers can provide crucial insights into how these changes played out in practice.
Actions for March 8-14
Action 1 - Email Legislators About Upcoming Bills
Full Legislative Action List here.
There is one Senate bill being heard in Senate Election Law this week that we would like you to sign in on, SB287.
OPPOSE
SB287 - requiring applicants for absentee ballots to present a copy of their photo identification with their application.
Public Hearing: 3/11/2025 at 9:30 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: Senate Election Law
Link to Sign in on Senate Bills
There are several bills that are either going to executive session or are on their way to the House Floor for a full vote. There are six that we would like you to email the House Election Law Committee or your Representatives about via our UJoin email links below.
SB213 - relative to absentee voting.
Senate Floor Vote: 3/13/2025
Location: State House
Link to Email Your Senator via UJoin
HB317 - preventing a supervisor of the checklist from verifying a person's identity without identification, even if they personally know that person.
Executive Session: 3/11/2025
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Email the Committee via UJoin
HB323 - requiring the presentation of a government-issued photographic means of identification in order to vote
Executive Session: 3/11/2025
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Email the Committee via UJoin
HB289 - regarding domicile qualifications for voting
Executive Session: 3/11/2025
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Email the Committee via UJoin
HB311 - relative to permissible campaign contributions by business organizations and labor unions
Executive Session: 3/11/2025
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Email the Committee via UJoin
HB365 - relative to proof of United States citizenship for indigent voters
House Floor Vote: 3/13/2025
Location: State House
Link to Email Your Representatives via UJoin
Action 2 - Contact Your Member of Congress to Support HJ Res 54
Representative Jayapal has reintroduced HJ Res 54 a bill that would overturn Citizens United and amend the constitution to clarify that the rights protected and extended by the Constitution are the rights of natural persons only NOT corporations. This legislation would be a huge step toward getting money out of politics so please reach out to your member of Congress and tell them to fervently support HJ Res 54.
Chris Pappas
Office addresses and phone numbers
Email Form
Maggie Goodlander
Office addresses and phone numbers
Email Form
Action 3 - Town Meeting! Vote - Spread the Word - Observe
Town meeting is coming up for several towns on Tuesday, March 11th! Historically, voter turnout for local elections is significantly smaller than for federal elections - which is a shame because your voice is most powerful at the local level. We'd like your help to fix that!
First, make sure that if your town's town meeting is on Tuesday that you get out and vote so your voice is heard. Second, spread the word - make sure your friends, family, and other members of your community know about the upcoming election. Share when and where your town meeting will be held, what documents new voters will need to register, and any other helpful information about your local election that you think others need to know (this can be done via calls, emails, texts, social media, or even word of mouth). Finally, if you are available to be a nonpartisan poll observer for part of the day please sign up with Sarah Chouinard and help us monitor the effects HB1569 is having on our local government.
Actions for March 1-7
Action 1 - Sign-in on Bills
Full Legislative Action List here.
SUPPORT
SB214 - enabling no-excuse absentee registration and voting.
Public Hearing: 3/4/2025 at 9:15 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: Senate Election Law
Link to Sign in on Senate Bills
SB218 - relative to absentee ballot outer envelopes.
Public Hearing: 3/4/2025 at 10:00 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: Senate Election Law
Link to Sign in on Senate Bills
HB492 - allowing political parties to request recounts when no candidate is named on the ballot.
Public Hearing: 3/4/2025 at 10:40a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB574 - requiring background checks of the private companies and their contractors who program and maintain New Hampshire voting machines.
Public Hearing: 3/4/2025 at 11:00a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
OPPOSE
SB216 - relative to the authority of moderators on election day.
Public Hearing: 3/4/2025 at 9:45 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: Senate Election Law
Link to Sign in on Senate Bills
HB514 - allowing private persons to sue for violations of election laws.
Public Hearing: 3/4/2025 at 11:40a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
Action 2 - Write to members of the House Election Law Committee ahead of next week's Executive Session schedule.
- Proof of citizenship for indigent voters
- OPPOSE HB365
Action 3 - Contact your representatives and urge them to support SB219: requiring the secretary of state to enter into a membership agreement with the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) ahead of its appearance on next week's Consent Calendar.
Actions for February 22-February 28
Action 1 - Sign-in on Bills
Full Legislative Action List here.
SUPPORT
CACR2 - relating to the drawing of district boundaries. Providing that no district boundaries shall be drawn in a way that favors or disfavors any political party or candidate.
Public Hearing: 2/25/2025 at 9:00 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB363 - establishing redistricting criteria.
Public Hearing: 2/25/2025 at 9:20 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB600 - enabling ranked-choice voting for municipal elections.
Public Hearing: 2/25/2025 at 1:00 p.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB521 - authorizing online voter registration.
Public Hearing: 2/25/2025 at 3:10 p.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
OPPOSE
HB356 - enabling school districts to adopt partisan school district elections.
Public Hearing: 2/25/2025 at 10:00 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB367 - changing the method for adopting partisan town elections to be the same as rescinding partisan town elections.
Public Hearing: 2/25/2025 at 10:40 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB151 - relative to the term for supervisors of the checklist.
Public Hearing: 2/25/2025 at 11:40 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB220 - closing the presidential or state primary of political parties.
Public Hearing: 2/25/2025 at 3:30 p.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
Action 2 - Write an LTE/contact the SOS about voting in New Hampshire
During the House Election Law's subcommittee meeting on Friday, Feb. 21st Secretary of State Scanlan claimed that prior to HB1569 registering to vote in New Hampshire was too easy (link to Scanlan's full comment below). This is in direct contradiction with the Election Law Journal's 2022 study that ranked New Hampshire last in it's cost of voting index report. The Secretary's comment when explaining the previous process where a person could use affidavits during registration completely ignores that affidavits are legally binding documents with steep penalties for misuse. Instead, his phrasing makes it sound like just a slip of paper. With all this in mind consider writing an LTE or a message to Secretary Scanlan to let him know your thoughts on how he represented voter registration in New Hampshire.
Scanlan Recording: https://youtu.be/nFxIe5OU7H4
David M. Scanlan
Secretary of State - Elections Office
Phone: 603-271-3242
Fax: 603-271-6316
Email: [email protected]
Location & mailing address:
Secretary of State
State House, Room 204
107 North Main Street
Concord, NH 03301
Action 3 - Contact your Supervisor of the Checklist about HB151
Currently, our Supervisors of the Checklist serve 6 year terms, a practice that ensure that they are able to hold the role through Presidential, State, and local primaries and elections allowing them to cultivate experience for the different types of elections in NH. This bill proposes that their terms will be cut down to only 3 years, which could lead to a loss of experience/knowledge for these vital roles over time. We ask that you reach out to the Supervisors of the Checklist that you know and let them know about this bill being heard on Tuesday so they can have their voices heard.
Actions for February 16-February 22
Action 1 - Sign-in on Bills
Full Legislative Action List here.
SUPPORT
HB341 - requiring the secretary of state to check voter records prior to every election.
Public Hearing: 2/18/2025 at 10:40 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB714 - creating a single primary ballot.
Public Hearing: 2/18/2025 at 1:00 p.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
OPPOSE
SB221 - relative to the verification of the checklist.
Public Hearing: 2/18/2025 at 9:45 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: Senate Election Law
Link to Sign in on Senate Bills
HB308 - requiring the election checklist to have a column to annotate if a non-New Hampshire issued form of identification is provided to vote.
Public Hearing: 2/18/2025 at 11:20 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB154 - enabling voters to request to have their ballots hand-counted.
Public Hearing: 2/18/2025 at 1:40 p.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB693 - relative to ballot counting procedures and permitting the hand counting of ballots.
Public Hearing: 2/18/2025 at 2:30 p.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB317 - preventing a supervisor of the checklist from verifying a person's identity without identification, even if they personally know that person.
Public Hearing: 2/18/2025 at 3:20 p.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
Action 2 - Contact Your Congress Members to OPPOSE the SAVE Act
The SAVE Act, which would disenfranchise millions of voters, has been fast-tracked. This legislation would require strict proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, documents that millions of Americans don’t have access to. Requiring every citizen to provide a passport or birth certificate in person to register or update their voter information would impact all of us, but would especially impact working-class Americans, older voters, women who’ve changed their last name, and those who’ve lost essential documents due to natural disasters.
Please contact your Members of Congress to voice their opposition to this bill. You can email your congressmen via Declaration for American Democracy Coalition's sign-and-send petition tool here.
In our outreach we have found this statement on the phones from Hassan’s office: "Senator Hassan has serious concerns about any legislation that would make it harder for American citizens to vote. If the SAVE Act comes up for a vote on the Senate floor, Senator Hassan will vote against it."
Action 3 - Share Upcoming Events on Social Media
Current Redistricting Practices: How District Maps Can Impact Your Voice in Government
Tuesday, February 18th at 6:00pm EST
Join us for a workshop on the redistricting process in New Hampshire, the current proposed redistricting bills in New Hampshire, our mapathon initiative and how you can help!
Learn more & RSVP
High School Voter Registration Run a Drive Workshop
March 6, 2025 at 4:00pm
Join students, teachers, and volunteers across your state to help NH high school students register to vote before they graduate this spring!
Learn more & RSVP
High School Voter Registration Run a Drive Workshop
March 23, 2025 at 7:00pm
Join students, teachers, and volunteers across your state to help NH high school students register to vote before they graduate this spring!
Learn more & RSVP
Actions for February 9-February 15
Action 1 - Sign-in on Bills
Full Legislative Action List here.
SUPPORT
**NEW BILL ADDED** HB52 - Establishing election day holiday
Public Hearing: 2/12/2025 at 11:00 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration
Link to Sign in on House Bills
Link to Election Day Holiday Petition
SB219 - requiring the secretary of state to enter into a membership agreement with the Electronic Registration Information Center
Public Hearing: 2/11/2025 at 9:15 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: Senate Election Law
Link to Sign in on Senate Bills
HB385 - reestablishing voter identification exceptions
Public Hearing: 2/11/2025 at 11:20 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB141 - relative to campaign disclosures for limited liability companies.
Public Hearing: 2/11/2025 at 2:00 p.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB175 - relative to defined coordinated expenditures
Public Hearing: 2/11/2025 at 2:20 p.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB311 - relative to permissible campaign contributions by business organizations and labor unions
Public Hearing: 2/11/2025 at 2:40 p.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
OPPOSE
SB223 - relative to using college or university student identification cards to obtain a ballot
Public Hearing: 2/11/2025 at 10:00 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: Senate Election Law
Link to Sign in on Senate Bills
HB684 - preventing the use of student identification cards as a means to obtain a ballot
Public Hearing: 2/11/2025 at 10:00 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
Check out the HB684 Talking Points
HB323 - requiring the presentation of a government-issued photographic means of identification in order to vote
Public Hearing: 2/11/2025 at 10:30 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
Check out the HB323 Talking Points
HB289 - regarding domicile qualifications for voting
Public Hearing: 2/11/2025 at 10:50 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
Check out the HB289 Talking Points
HB618 - enables election officials to verify the single use of an out-of-state driver's license presented when a person votes by using the centralized voter registration database
Public Hearing: 2/11/2025 at 11:40 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB365 - relative to proof of United States citizenship for indigent voters
Public Hearing: 2/11/2025 at 1:00 p.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB472 - requiring voters to prove domicile
Public Hearing: 2/11/2025 at 1:20 p.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
Check out the HB472 Talking Points
HB172 - restricting undeclared voters from same-day voting in a presidential or state primary
Public Hearing: 2/11/2025 at 1:40 p.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
Action 2 - Invite Educators & Students to HSVR Volunteer Workshops
Open Democracy and The Civics Center are hosting three High School Voter Registration Volunteer workshops on February 12th @ 6pm, March 6th @ 4pm, and March 23rd @ 6pm teaching students, teachers, and volunteers across your state how to help NH high school students register to vote before they graduate this spring! Attendees will learn how to encourage and empower students and educators to organize voter registration events for their schools. Please invite the educators, students, and clerks that your know so we can continue growing our high school voter registration drive program across the state.
February 12th Training - opendemocracynh.org/hsvrworkshop2025
March 6th Training - opendemocracynh.org/hsvrworkshop2025_2
March 23rd Training - opendemocracynh.org/hsvr_workshop_2025_3
Action 3 - Thank Your Reps for Supporting HB67
During this week's House session, our Representatives voted unanimously (voice vote) to pass HB67 - supporting accessible voting in New Hampshire! This bill is now on its way to the Finance Committee for review before returning to the floor. So this week please take a moment to contact your representatives to thank them for helping support accessible voting and ask them to support it again when it returns from the Finance Committee.
Find contact information for your Representatives here.
Bonus Action: For the Love of Democracy Valentines for Legislators
Celebrate this Valentine's Day by asking your legislators to support our democracy by supporting or opposing key bills with our Valentine's Day cards.
Actions for February 2-February 8
Action 1 - Sign-in on Bills
Full Legislative Action List here.
SUPPORT
CACR5 - relating to absentee ballots. Providing that no excuse shall be needed by the voter to receive an absentee ballot
Public Hearing: 2/4/2025 at 10:00 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB136 - extending the time period for delivery of an absentee ballot from 5:00 p.m. to the close of the polls
Public Hearing: 2/4/2025 at 10:40 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB403 - relative to weather conditions which enable absentee voting
Public Hearing: 2/4/2025 at 1:40 p.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB294 - relative to the processing of absentee ballots
Public Hearing: 2/4/2025 at 2:00 p.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB344 - enables the processing of absentee ballots before election day
Public Hearing: 2/4/2025 at 3:00 p.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
OPPOSE
HB418 - relative to eligibility for absentee voting
Public Hearing: 2/4/2025 at 10:20 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB158 - relative to public inspection of absentee ballot lists
Public Hearing: 2/4/2025 at 11:00 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB217 - relative to absentee ballots
Public Hearing: 2/4/2025 at 11:20 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB288 - requires that absentee ballots be requested at least 6 months prior to any election for which the absentee ballot is requested
Public Hearing: 2/4/2025 at 1:00 p.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB686 - requiring a voter to provide identification when requesting an absentee ballot
Public Hearing: 2/4/2025 at 2:30 p.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB608 - requiring moderators to inspect absentee ballot affidavits for full execution including use of a notary, election officer, or any person authorized by law to administer oaths
Public Hearing: 2/4/2025 at 3:20 p.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
Action 2 - Contact Your Congress Members to OPPOSE the SAVE Act
The SAVE Act, which would disenfranchise millions of voters, has been fast-tracked and could be up for a vote as soon as the week of Feb 10th. This legislation would require strict proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, documents that millions of Americans don’t have access to. Requiring every citizen to provide a passport or birth certificate in person to register or update their voter information would impact all of us, but would especially impact working-class Americans, older voters, women who’ve changed their last name, and those who’ve lost essential documents due to natural disasters.
Please contact your Members of Congress to voice their opposition to this bill. You can email your congressmen via Declaration for American Democracy Coalition's sign-and-send petition tool here.
Contact information:
Chris Pappas
Maggie Goodlander
Concord District Office
18 North Main Street
4th Floor
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: (603) 226-1002
Action 3 - Contact Town Officials About Absentee Bills Being Heard on Tuesday
This Tuesday, Feb 4th, the house is hearing a marathon of absentee ballot bills many of which will make the work of your local election officials (moderators, clerks, etc.) more difficult. We encourage you to reach out to your clerk or moderator to inform them about the bills that are being heard and encourage them to come up to the state house to testify on the bills that would directly impact their work. The full list of bills being heard can be found here: gc.nh.gov/house/schedule/eventDetails.aspx?event=726&et=1.
Actions for January 26-February 1
Action 1 - Sign-in on Bills
Full Legislative Action List here.
SUPPORT
HB630 - preventing the dissemination of deepfake materials of political candidates before an election.
This bill prevents the dissemination of deepfake materials of political candidates before an election. With election misinformation and disinformation on the rise and the rapid spread of generative AI deepfakes as the technology advances, it is vital that legislation advances with it to prevent disinformation campaigns from manipulating the results of our elections.
Public Hearing: 1/28/2025 at 1:00 p.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB389 - requiring candidates to attest they have not spent more than $1,000 in an election.
This bill requires candidates to attest that they have not spent more than $1,000 in an election. This bill encourages campaign finance transparency and makes a clear distinction between candidates who are failing to submit their spending reports and those who did not exceed the $1,000 threshold ensuring proper filing accountability.
Public Hearing: 1/28/2025 at 1:50 p.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB 352 - prohibiting possession of a firearm at a polling place
This bill prohibits possessing a firearm at a polling place and includes certain exceptions. This bill further allows individuals who are unwilling or unable to comply with this prohibition to vote by absentee ballot. This bill would help with the intimidation that many voters feel when in the polling place with armed voters or observers.
Public Hearing: 1/30/2025 at 12:00 p.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: Criminal Justice & Public Safety
Link to Sign in on House Bills
OPPOSE
HB107 - relative to political advertising printed in newspapers, periodicals, or billboards.
This bill removes the requirement to mark political advertising printed in newspapers, periodicals or billboards as "political advertising." This flies in the face of transparency.
Public Hearing: 1/28/2025 at 10:00 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: House Election Law
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB 149 - relative to warrant article approvals at ballot referenda form of town meeting
This bill allows both the original and amended warrant article to be voted on by voters at ballot referenda forms of town meeting. This could lead to a great deal of confusion and frustration during town meetings.
Public Hearing: 1/30/2025 at 10:10 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Committee: Municipal & County Government
Link to Sign in on House Bills
Action 2 - RSVP & Share Upcoming Events
Grassroots Briefing on Voting Rights Priorities for 2025
Thursday, February 6, 2025, 6:30 pm
This briefing will be an opportunity to learn about voting rights priorities for the 2025 legislative session. Together, we’ll explore how to advocate for pro-voter legislation and counter anti-voter efforts.
RSVP here!
In the Dark: The Importance of Campaign Finance Transparency
Wednesday, February 5th at 6:00pm EST
Join us for our upcoming workshop where we will discuss the impact of money in politics, current proposed campaign finance reform bills, and our review of New Hampshire's post-election campaign finance reports.
Learn more & RSVP
HSVR Workshop 2025
February 12, 2025 at 6:00pm
Join students, teachers, and volunteers across your state to help NH high school students register to vote before they graduate this spring!
Learn more & RSVP
Open Democracy Book Club: Tyranny of the Minority
Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 7:00pm EST
Please join us for a discussion of Tyranny of the Minority. Author Steven Levitsky will be joining us for the first half hour for discussion and Q&A.
Learn more & RSVP
Current Redistricting Practices: How District Maps Can Impact Your Voice in Government
Tuesday, February 18th at 6:00pm EST
Join us for a workshop on the redistricting process in New Hampshire, the current proposed redistricting bills in New Hampshire, our mapathon initiative and how you can help!
Learn more & RSVP
Action 3 - Thank House Committee for Supporting HB67
Thanks to the committee's support last week this bill is one step closer to becoming a reality, so we would like to take a moment to acknowledge their efforts. This bill would establish an ongoing agreement with the secretary of state that would permit the use of accessible voting machines for all elections (local, state, and federal). These devices would make all elections accessible for visually-impaired voters, and voters with other disabilities.
Bonus Action: Ask your Representatives to support HB67 when it goes to the House Floor
This bill would establish an ongoing agreement with the secretary of state that would permit the use of accessible voting machines for all elections (local, state, and federal). These devices would make all elections accessible for visually-impaired voters, and voters with other disabilities.
Sample Email Language:
As a concerned New Hampshire resident, I am asking you to support HB67 and ensure our elections are accessible for all. All voters have a right to participate in our elections and have the privacy of casting their ballots independently. This bill will create a lasting solution that will provide voters with disabilities access to accessible voting systems during federal and municipal elections. These systems would enable all individuals with disabilities to vote without the need for assistance and with the same degree of privacy that is accorded to non disabled electors voting at the same polling place.
Please vote ought to pass on HB 67 and support fair and equitable voting rights for all New Hampshire residents.
Find contact information for your Representatives here.
Actions for January 19-January 25
Action 1 - Sign-in on Bills (Updated)
Full Legislative Action List here.
SUPPORT
HB630 - preventing the dissemination of deepfake materials of political candidates before an election.
This bill prevents the dissemination of deepfake materials of political candidates before an election. With election misinformation and disinformation on the rise and the rapid spread of generative AI deepfakes as the technology advances, it is vital that legislation advances with it to prevent disinformation campaigns from manipulating the results of our elections.
Public Hearing: 1/28/2025 at 1:00 p.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB389 - requiring candidates to attest they have not spent more than $1,000 in an election.
This bill requires candidates to attest that they have not spent more than $1,000 in an election. This bill encourages campaign finance transparency and makes a clear distinction between candidates who are failing to submit their spending reports and those who did not exceed the $1,000 threshold ensuring proper filing accountability.
Public Hearing: 1/28/2025 at 1:50 p.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Link to Sign in on House Bills
HB67 - Accessible Voting Machines - relative to agreements with the secretary of state for the use of accessible voting systems.
This bill would establish an ongoing agreement with the secretary of state that would permit the use of accessible voting machines for all elections (local, state, and federal). Please sign in and submit testimony supporting this bill and if you haven't already email the committee asking them to support it.
Public Hearing: 1/21/2025 at 10:20 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Link to Sign in on House Bills
Link to UJoin Email
OPPOSE
HB107 - relative to political advertising printed in newspapers, periodicals, or billboards.
This bill removes the requirement to mark political advertising printed in newspapers, periodicals or billboards as "political advertising." This flies in the face of transparency.
Public Hearing: 1/28/2025 at 10:00 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Link to Sign in on House Bills
SB 44 - relative to hand counts of ballots in elections.
This bill would require a hand recount on the request of 100 registered voters in one city, town, or municipality using electronic ballot counting machines. Hand counts are know to be less accurate, take longer, and requires many volunteers, additionally current statutes only allow for candidates to request recounts and opening up recount requests to the public could delay election results significantly. With this in mind we ask that you sign in -and testify if you can- to OPPOSE SB 44.
Public Hearing: 1/21/2025 at 9:30 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Link to Sign in on Senate Bills
HB 133-FN, modifying the new resident drivers’ license transfer requirements, specifying when the division of motor vehicles shall send violation notices, and appropriating funds to the division for technological upgrades required for legal compliance.
Sign in to OPPOSE HB133. This bill adds another hurdle to registering to vote in NH. The bill:
- Requires that when a new NH resident voter uses an out of state license that the Secretary of State sends notification to the DMV and a notice will be sent to the applicant’s in-state and out-of-state address if available.
- Adds a requirement to new NH residents to notify the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) if they have been a resident of the state of NH for more than 60 days and have not yet obtained a NH license and requires that if their out of state license has expired or been relinquished that they notify the DMV.
- Requires the DMV Director notify an individual found to have been a resident of the State of NH for over 90 days without obtaining a NH license that they are in violation of RSA 263:35
Public Hearing: 1/21/2025 at 1:00 p.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Link to Sign in on House Bills
Action 2 - Attend Granny D Celebration
We'll be joined by this impressive list of speakers:
- Keene Mayor Jay Kahn
- Jenna Carroll, Exec. Director, Historical Society of Cheshire County
- Rep. Dr. Nicholas Germana
- Peggy Walsh, former educator
- Katie Temmallo, student
- Charlie Savage, student
- Bob Perry, "Rosie" restorer
- Dennis Burke, author, biographer
- Sarah Mausner, musician
The Granny D Archives will be on display and will be staffed by students from the Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society.
Action 3 - Write an LTE or Op-Ed about Citizens United
This January 21st is the 15th anniversary of the infamous Citizens United ruling. To mark this tumultuous anniversary, consider writing an LTE or Op-Ed about the negative impact this questionable ruling has had on American politics and urge our legislators to take action to overturn Citizens United and get money out of our politics.
Actions for January 12-January 18
Action 1 - Sign-in on Bills
Support
HB67 - Accessible Voting Machines - relative to agreements with the secretary of state for the use of accessible voting systems.
This bill would establish an ongoing agreement with the secretary of state that would permit the use of accessible voting machines for all elections (local, state, and federal).
Public Hearing: 1/21/2025 at 10:20 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Link to Sign in on House Bills
SB16 - requiring municipalities to post a copy of election return forms on their websites and in public locations.
This bill would require all NH municipalities to post a copy of their election return forms on their websites and in public locations within 7 days of an election. From our reading, this bill would increase transparency without adding excessive strain on our election officials.
Public Hearing: 1/14/2025 at 9:40 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Link to Sign in on Senate Bills
Action 2 - Email House Election Law Committee to Support HB67
This bill would establish an ongoing agreement with the secretary of state that would permit the use of accessible voting machines for all elections (local, state, and federal). These devices would make all elections accessible for visually-impaired voters, and voters with other disabilities.
Public Hearing: 1/21/2025 at 10:20 a.m.
Location: Legislative Office Building
Action 3 - Write an LTE Thanking Legislators for Tabling House Rule 44 Amendment
The House voted to table the amendment to House Rule 44 which would have allowed committees to entirely forego a public hearing for a bill with a 3/4 vote. This amendment being tabled is an exciting victory early in the legislative session! This week, consider writing an LTE thanking our legislators for supporting government transparency with this vote. Please not this was a voice vote so there is not a list of how individual legislators voted.
Bonus - Share/RSVP Upcoming Events
Granny D Celebration
We'll be joined by this impressive list of speakers:
- Keene Mayor Jay Kahn
- Jenna Carroll, Exec. Director, Historical Society of Cheshire County
- Rep. Dr. Nicholas Germana
- Peggy Walsh, former educator
- Katie Temmallo, student
- Charlie Savage, student
- Bob Perry, "Rosie" restorer
- Dennis Burke, author, biographer
- Sarah Mausner, musician
The Granny D Archives will be on display and will be staffed by students from the Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society.
RSVP: opendemocracynh.org/2025gdbirthday
Open Democracy Book Club: Tyranny of the Minority
February 13th at 7pm
Please join Open Democracy Book Club on Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 7pm Eastern for a discussion of Tyranny of the Minority. Author Steven Levitsky will be joining us for the first half hour for discussion and Q&A.
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