Michael Courville | Oppose HB1277

To: House Election Law Committee From: Michael Courville, Manchester, NH Date: February 5, 2026 Subject: HB1277 – In Opposition Dear Chairman and Members of the Committee, My name is Michael Courville, and I am a resident of Manchester. I am writing to express my strong opposition to HB1277, which would add new identification requirements for absentee ballot applications. I urge the committee to vote Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL) for the following reasons: Unfair Burden on Students: Manchester is a hub for higher education. Many of our students are legal New Hampshire voters who may not possess a New Hampshire-issued driver's license. By mandating a NH ID number for streamlined verification, this bill creates a "two-tier" system. Students without these specific state documents would be forced to navigate much more difficult hurdles—like finding a notary or physical copying services—just to exercise their right to vote absentee. A Solution in Search of a Problem: Our current system of signature verification and existing ID laws already ensures the integrity of our elections. There is no evidence that the current absentee application process is being exploited, yet this bill threatens to disenfranchise young voters, the elderly, and the disabled who may not have current DMV records. Privacy and Security: Requiring voters to write down sensitive identification numbers on applications that are sent through the mail and handled by various intermediaries creates unnecessary identity theft risks for Granite Staters. We should be making it easier for our young people to engage in the democratic process, not more difficult. HB1277 places a "bureaucratic tax" on the time and resources of students and other vulnerable populations. I respectfully ask you to protect voting access and vote ITL on HB1277. Sincerely, Michael Courville Manchester, NH