For Immediate Release:

May 29, 2026

Contact:

Olivia Zink

[email protected]

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.

###

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.