The Markup: New voting rules in New Hampshire

We are tracking 1,699 bills prefiled or introduced this session across 50 states. Our analysis finds that 743 bills improve voter access or election administration, and 436 bills restrict voter access or election administration. 

Overall, we’ve seen a significant shift in the makeup of election laws enacted by state legislatures. Since our team began systematically tracking legislation in all 50 states in 2021, each year we saw more than twice as many new laws expanding access to the ballot as new laws restricting it. That trend ended this year, with only one in three new laws improving voter access and election administration in 2025 – the lowest percentage we’ve ever recorded. Read our midyear report for more key election policy trends to date.

Improving Voter Access or Election Administration 

New Hampshire enacts pro-accessibility bill as governor vetoes restrictive bill.

Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed into law H.B. 67, which will make permanent a six-month pilot program requiring the secretary of state to provide municipalities with accessible voting systems for voters with disabilities during municipal elections. Ayotte also vetoed H.B. 613, which would have required voters who need accessible voting systems to cast a ballot to provide notice to their municipality well in advance of an election.

Restricting Voter Access or Election Administration

New Hampshire expands proof of citizenship requirement, imposes new burdens on mail voters.

Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed two restrictive bills into law on Friday. S.B. 218 expands the state’s existing proof of citizenship requirement to cover all voter registrations. All mail registration applicants must now provide additional documentation establishing their identity, citizenship, residence, and age. These documents were already required for in-person voter registration. Additionally, most voters are required to register in person at clerks’ offices. S.B. 287 requires voters applying to vote by mail to provide a copy of a photo ID with their applications. Such applicants may alternatively show photo ID in person at a clerk’s office, or have their application notarized. Ayotte vetoed S.B. 213, which contained similar requirements.

North Carolina State Board of Elections issues new rules for UOCAVA voters; House committee advances bill establishing new requirements for voter registration applicants and overseas voters.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections issued a memo explaining new rules that will affect military and overseas voters. The rules block the adult children of overseas voters – who have never resided in North Carolina – from voting in state or local races. They also require UOCAVA voters to follow the state’s existing general requirement for mail voters to include a copy of a photo ID when returning their ballot. These rules bring the state in line with a state supreme court ruling earlier this year. Additionally, H.B. 958 advanced out of a House committee. The bill would require all voter registration applicants to provide their full Social Security number, require UOCAVA voters to include a copy of their voter ID with their mail ballot, and mandate new audits of mail and early voters, among other changes. The bill must clear another committee before being sent to the full House.

U.S. District Court dismisses case challenging Wyoming proof of citizenship law.

A federal court dismissed a lawsuit on procedural grounds challenging a new Wyoming law. This recently enacted law requires voter registration applicants to provide proof of citizenship. Unlike the proposal contained in President Donald Trump’s executive order on elections, the federal SAVE Act, and most proof of citizenship mandates considered this year in 19 states, the Wyoming law considers REAL IDs as sufficient to meet the requirement.

Federal appeals court rules again that only the Department of Justice may bring claims under the Voting Rights Act.

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a section of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) that guarantees voters with disabilities the right to assistance at the polls cannot be enforced via lawsuits brought by impacted individuals or advocacy groups. The court held that only the U.S. attorney general, through the Department of Justice, may bring lawsuits to enforce the provision. This mirrors a similar 2023 ruling that barred private enforcement of Section 2 of the VRA. The U.S. Supreme Court is likely to weigh whether to hear the case.