Micah Johnson

I respectfully oppose HB 1382. This bill would require certain overseas voters to submit additional proof of U.S. citizenship to the New Hampshire Secretary of State in order to remain eligible to vote. While election integrity is important, this proposal adds a new layer of paperwork and verification that creates unnecessary administrative burden for the state and local election officials. Overseas voters already face challenges such as time differences, mail delays, and limited access to official documents. Requiring extra documentation increases the risk that eligible voters could be discouraged from participating or be unable to comply in time. The bill appears to duplicate existing citizenship and eligibility safeguards without clear evidence of a problem that requires this added step. Implementing a new documentation system would also require additional processing, recordkeeping, and voter outreach, increasing costs and complexity in election administration. For these reasons, I urge the legislature to find HB 1382 Inexpedient to Legislate. Thank you for considering this testimony.