Broad debate in Election Law Committee pits no‑excuse absentee amendment against tighter limits and new ID/notary proposals

The House Election Law Committee heard hours of testimony Monday on a cluster of measures affecting absentee voting — from a proposed constitutional amendment to allow no‑excuse absentee ballots to bills that would narrow reasons for mail voting, change how and when ballots are delivered or opened, and add identification or notarization requirements to absentee requests.

Supporters of expanding absentee access said the state should follow the majority of other states and let voters request absentee ballots without giving a reason. Opponents warned that loosening requirements without changes to verification could create security gaps; other speakers opposed proposed notary/ID steps as a practical and equity problem for seniors, people with disabilities and homebound voters.

The debate opened with testimony on CACR 5, a constitutional amendment offered by Representative Connie Lane that would let New Hampshire voters receive an absentee ballot without providing a reason. "The purpose is to improve access for voters in New Hampshire so that they will have the same ability to choose as 37 other states allow," Lane said. Secretary of State David Scanlon told the committee that New Hampshire's single‑day, in‑person system historically supported high voter confidence but warned that widening convenience without accounting for verification creates a tension between access and security.

Why it matters: New Hampshire election officials and advocacy groups framed the issue as a balance of two goals — making voting usable for people who legitimately cannot be at the polls (seniors, people with disabilities, caregivers, long‑shift workers and people who travel) while preserving public confidence in results. Committee witnesses cited major changes after 2020: absentee voting statewide rose from about 9% historically to roughly 30% in 2020, and remained well above pre‑pandemic levels in subsequent high‑turnout elections.

What proponents said: ABLE New Hampshire and disability groups urged CACR 5, saying current limited reasons for absentee ballots place an undue burden on people with disabilities. "For…