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CACR 4

relating to voting eligibility. Providing that only legal resident citizens who are at least 18 years of age or older who reside in the place they claim as a domicile shall be eligible voters.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Greg Hill and 4 co-sponsors

Defines voter eligibility by requiring legal resident citizens 18+ who live where they declare as domicile.

Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-2937h: MF RC 184-157 Lacking Necessary Three-Fifths Vote 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 155
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · CACR 4

Summary: CACR 4 (New Hampshire, 2026) — Relating to Voting Eligibility

Purpose and Intent

  • CACR 4 proposes a constitutional change to define who is eligible to vote in New Hampshire.
  • The core aim is to restrict voting eligibility to individuals who meet specific residency, citizenship, age, and domicile requirements.
  • Specifically, it would allow only:
    • Legal resident citizens
    • At least 18 years of age or older
    • Individuals who reside in the place they claim as their domicile

In short, the measure seeks to tighten who can be registered to vote by tying eligibility to citizenship, residency status, age, and a person’s declared domicile.

Key Provisions (Proposed Changes)

  • Eligibility standard: Only those who are legal resident citizens and are 18+ may be voters.
  • Domicile requirement: Voters must reside in the place they declare as their domicile.
  • Residency and citizenship linkage: The bill emphasizes residency and citizenship status as prerequisites for voting eligibility, potentially narrowing who can register compared to current practice if it differs.
  • Constitutional amendment mechanism: As a Constitutional Reserved Change (CACR), the proposal would alter the New Hampshire Constitution, requiring appropriate procedural steps (likely voter-approved referendum) before taking effect.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Eligible voters: Legal resident citizens who are at least 18 and reside at their claimed domicile.
  • Non-citizens, temporary residents, or individuals under 18: Would be excluded from voting under this proposal.
  • People with multiple residences or ambiguous domicile status: The measure would require a clear domicile declaration, potentially affecting those with split or temporary living arrangements.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Legislative history indicates a multi-stage process:
    • Introduced in January 2025 and referred to Election Law.
    • Public hearings held in early 2025.
    • Retained in committee in February 2025, with subsequent executive sessions and a public committee report in 2025.
    • The committee reported: “Ought to Pass with Amendment” with a significant vote (e.g., 10-7 RC) and noted the amendment (2025-2937h) was needed but initially lacked the three-fifths vote required for a constitutional amendment in the Legislature.
    • An amendment (Amendment #2025-2937h) was brought forward in January 2026, and there was consideration of passing with amendment, still requiring broader consensus for constitutional changes.
  • As a constitutional measure, CACR 4 would typically require:
    • Legislative passage in one session or multiple sessions per state constitutional procedure
    • Approval by a majority of voters in a statewide ballot referendum

Potential Impacts

  • Strengthened definition of who can vote, potentially reducing voter eligibility for some individuals who currently qualify but would not under the new domicile- and citizenship-focused criteria.
  • Increased emphasis on clear domicile declarations, which may affect voter registration processes and challenges related to residency questions.
  • If enacted, the amendment would modify fundamental voting eligibility in the state constitution, making it more enduring and less easily changed by ordinary statute.
  • Administrative implications for election officials, who would need to verify citizenship, residency, age, and domicile status more stringently.

Considerations for Readers

  • The bill addresses core civic questions: who is entitled to vote and how residency and domicile are determined.
  • Being a constitutional amendment, CACR 4 would require statewide voter approval to take effect.
  • The current status indicates ongoing legislative consideration and potential technical amendments to address enforcement and definitional clarity.

If you want, I can provide a plain-language comparison of current eligibility rules versus the proposed changes, once the exact constitutional text and amendment language are available.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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