New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu recently signed a bill into law that will require unregistered voters to provide documentation to prove their identity and citizenship before being allowed to vote on Election Day. The new law, known as House Bill 1569, will go into effect on Nov. 11, but will not impact the upcoming 2024 election on Nov. 5. This new legislation, which was sponsored by state Rep. Robert Lynn, will eliminate the affidavit exception currently in place that allows voters to cast their ballots without proper identification as long as they sign an affidavit promising to provide the documentation within seven days. Under the new law, voters will be required to use a photo ID to vote, and new voters will also need to show proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate or passport.
Gov. Sununu, who is not seeking reelection, expressed support for the new law, stating that it will enhance the integrity and trust in the voting process in New Hampshire. Sununu had initially seemed hesitant to sign the bill, suggesting in March that the current process was working effectively. Voter identification laws like the one passed in New Hampshire are often criticized for attempting to address a problem, voter fraud, that is largely non-existent. Critics argue that such laws can disenfranchise eligible voters and create barriers to voting, particularly for marginalized communities. Former President Donald Trump has baselessly claimed that voter fraud has influenced past elections, leading some to believe that voter identification laws are necessary.
Critics of the new law, including McKenzie St. Germain, campaign director for the New Hampshire Campaign for Voting Rights, believe that the legislation will restrict access to voting for eligible “Granite Staters” and could potentially disenfranchise voters. St. Germain expressed concerns that the new law could lead to voters being turned away from the polls if they do not have the required documents, creating additional hurdles to participation in the voting process. The law is expected to impose new requirements on New Hampshire’s registration system and could also place a burden on election officials responsible for implementing the new regulations.
The passage of House Bill 1569 represents a significant change in New Hampshire’s voting laws and procedures, requiring voters to provide documentation proving their identity and citizenship in order to cast their ballots. While supporters of the law argue that it will enhance the security and integrity of the voting process, critics fear that it will disenfranchise eligible voters and create barriers to voting. The impact of the new law remains to be seen, as it will not take effect until later this year, but it has already sparked debates about the balance between election security and voter access in the state. As New Hampshire prepares for future elections, the implementation of the new law will likely have far-reaching implications for the state’s voting system and the rights of its citizens.
