Open Democracy is working to achieve political equality for all.
We envision a government accountable to the people, free from the influence of wealthy special interest groups.
With your help, we will:
1. Establish small donor, voter-owned honest elections
2. End gerrymandering and modernize voting
3. Eradicate Super PACs & neutralize Citizens United
4. Expose unlimited, anonymous Dark Money
5. Eliminate Pay-to-Play lobbyist & contractor donations
6. Enforce campaign finance laws & close loopholes
Join us!
- Volunteer, or join a regional Open Democracy Team! Right now, protecting our democracy needs you to speak up, and to take action.
- Give a one-time or recurring gift to help support our mission, if you're unable to take action. This helps us organize others and expand the chorus of voices for reform! You can also mail us a check to "Coalition for Open Democracy": 4 Park Street, Suite 301, Concord, NH 03301
We welcome your questions and ideas! Please contact us anytime:
Open Democracy
4 Park Street, Suite 301
Concord, NH 03301
[email protected]
(603) 715-8197
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What's New
FEDERAL COURT DECLARES DOCUMENTARY PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP FOR VOTING UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Continue reading →For Immediate Release:
May 29, 2026
Contact:
Olivia Zink
FEDERAL COURT DECLARES DOCUMENTARY PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP FOR VOTING UNCONSTITUTIONAL
CONCORD, NH — A federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire has permanently blocked enforcement of HB 1569, the sweeping 2024 law that imposed some of the most restrictive voter registration requirements in the country. The ruling is a major victory for New Hampshire voters and for the constitutional right to vote.
Open Democracy NH, as part of a broad coalition of voting rights organizations and individual voters, fought back against a law that systematically dismantled protections Granite State voters had relied on for years. HB 1569, signed by former Governor Chris Sununu in 2024, required voters to produce documentary proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, to register. For thousands of eligible New Hampshire residents, including young voters registering for the first time, those documents are not readily available.
The law also stripped away a longstanding protection that had allowed eligible voters whose qualifications were challenged at the polls to cast a ballot by swearing under penalty of perjury to their eligibility. Without that safeguard, eligible voters were turned away with no recourse.
The federal court ruled that these provisions place an unjustifiable burden on the right to vote in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, that they do little to further any legitimate state interest, and that they violate voters' right to procedural due process. The court permanently enjoined the state from enforcing these provisions in any future election, including the 2026 September primary and November midterms.
"For nearly two years, voters across New Hampshire have faced confusion, frustration, and disenfranchisement under this law.” said Olivia Zink, executive director of Open Democracy NH. "This is a clear victory for voters. The court recognized what we have been saying all along: New Hampshire's elections can remain secure without putting unnecessary barriers between eligible voters and the ballot box."
The ruling carries particular significance for young voters heading to the polls for the first time. Open Democracy NH's work registering high school students across the state made the harmful impact of HB 1569 impossible to ignore. "It's a rite of passage to register to vote," said Sam Cassin, Open Democracy NH's High School Voter Registration Coordinator. "This decision helps thousands of eligible voters in New Hampshire register to vote and participate in our democracy."
“This is a huge win for every voter in NH. Had this law stayed in effect, unjustified burdens would have prevented young people, renters, students, and others from casting a ballot,” said Sayles Kasten, executive director of NH Youth Movement. “Voting is a right, not a privilege. Because of the hard work of everyone involved, that right has been protected, and voting remains easy, safe, and secure in NH."
New Hampshire has long maintained safe, secure, and accurate elections. Open Democracy NH will continue fighting to ensure that every eligible Granite State voter can participate in our democracy without unnecessary barriers or confusion.
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Open Democracy is a nonpartisan, NH non-profit committed to political equality for all through fair redistricting, protecting the freedom to vote and voter-owned elections.
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Deadline to Change Party Affiliation in New Hampshire: June 2, 2026
Continue reading →With the September 8 New Hampshire State Primary fast approaching, we wanted to share an important reminder about upcoming voter
registration and party affiliation deadlines. 🗳️Because most Granite Staters are registered as “undeclared,” it's important for voters to understand how NH's primary system works.
If you are currently registered as “undeclared,” you are able to choose either party’s ballot in the State Primary. However, there are a few important things to keep in mind:
🗓️ June 2 is the deadline to change your party affiliation before the primary.
⚠️ If an undeclared voter casts a Democratic or Republican primary ballot—either in person or absentee—their voter registration will automatically change to that party affiliation.
After the primary, voters may change their affiliation back to “undeclared” (or to another party) either that same day by visiting the Supervisors of the Checklist table at their polling place or afterward by contacting their local clerk. Procedures can vary by town or city.
🚨 If you think you may have forgotten to switch your affiliation back to “undeclared” after the last primary, make sure to double-check before the June 2 deadline so you can vote in the 2026 primary the way you intend!
📬 Voting absentee?
Undeclared voters requesting an absentee ballot must indicate which party’s primary ballot they want on their absentee ballot application.🔎 You can check your:
• Voter registration status
• Party affiliation
• Absentee ballot request & return status...using the New Hampshire Secretary of State’s Voter Information Lookup Tool.
For more information, visit the Sec. of State's Party Primary FAQ page or contact your local town or city clerk.
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GOTV 🗳️: May 12 Town Elections in Chester, Hanover, Hebron, Newport, New Castle, and Peterborough
Continue reading →Help us get out the vote (GOTV)! The last round of New Hampshire town elections is coming up this Tuesday, May 12, for voters living in Chester, Hanover, Hebron, Newport, New Castle, and Peterborough.
With so many recent changes to New Hampshire’s voting laws, it’s important to make a plan before heading to the polls. Here are the most important things voters should know before Election Day:
✅ If already registered to vote, do these things:
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🚨 CLICK TO DOUBLE-CHECK YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS 🚨
- Starting this year, comprehensive voter roll verification (commonly referred to as voter roll purges) will take place annually instead of once every 10 years. Supervisors of the Checklist may remove voters who have not voted in the past five years. Voters who have cast a ballot within the last five years or registered since the 2024 general election do not need to take any action. Still, mistakes can happen—so it’s a good idea to double-check your registration status, even if you’re a frequent voter.
- Be sure to bring a valid photo-ID with you to check in and obtain your ballot. 🪪
- Important for Dartmouth students voting in Hanover: while student IDs have been banned for voting, the law does not take effect until June 2. 🎓
📝 If registering to vote, do these things:
- Bring documentary proof of your age, citizenship, identity, and domicile (remember "ACID") + proof of name change, if applicable (photos are acceptable 📷)
- If you were previously registered in New Hampshire, or are currently registered in another NH town or ward, you generally do not need to reprove citizenship or age, only identity and domicile. Still, we recommend bringing proof of all qualifications just in case.
- ⚠️ You should absolutely try to bring all required documents with you if you have them, since access to the statewide voter registration system (SVRS) is often limited to certain election officials and lines could become long on Election Day. However, if you are missing certain documents, local election officials may still be able to assist you. With your permission, they may search certain records from the NH DMV and Division of Vital Records to help verify your voter qualifications.
📌 Things all voters should do before Election Day:
- Confirm the location of your polling place.
- Check your town’s polling hours ahead of time, as hours can vary by municipality. ⏰
- View a sample ballot on your town's website.
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🚨 CLICK TO DOUBLE-CHECK YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS 🚨
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You Can Now Request Absentee Ballots for Both the Primary and General Elections! ✉️
Continue reading →Did you know that you can now request your absentee ballot for both the State Primary on September 8 and the General Election on November 3?
It’s important to note that you must submit a separate absentee ballot request form for each election.
As you prepare, here are some recent absentee voting law changes to be aware of:
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Local Election Countdown: 5 Days Remaining 🗳️
Continue reading →5 days remain until November 4th, Election Day in 11 NH cities! These are Berlin, Claremont, Concord, Dover, Keene, Laconia, Manchester, Nashua, Portsmouth, Rochester, and Somersworth. Make sure you have a plan to vote if you reside in one of these cities, and encourage your friends and family to do the same. 🗳️
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