American Democracy Minute | Radio Report & Podcast on Democracy Issues

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Feb. 28, 2025

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

If you’re headed to vote in New Hampshire’s traditional March town meetings and need to register, you’ll need proof of citizenship documents with you, or you won’t be able to vote. Twenty other states have similar legislation pending.

New Hampshire’s HB 1569 eliminated sworn citizenship affidavits, subject to fines or imprisonment for lying), as evidence citizenship. It now accepts only a birth certificate, U.S. Passport or naturalization papers. There is NO evidence of any widespread noncitizen voting in the state, and the law was immediately challenged in federal district court as unconstitutional and an unreasonable burden.

President Donald Trump’s recent unfounded claims of widespread noncitizen voting generated a rush to tighten proof of citizenship legislation around the country. Voting Rights Lab is tracking 35 proof of citizenship bills in 20 states, many based on model legislation pushed by former Trump election lawyer, Cleta Mitchell and her Only Citizens Vote Coalition.

Just this month, proof of citizenship bills were advanced in Wyoming and Missouri. Eighteen other states are considering bills adding proof of citizenship requirements, and the pending SAVE Act in Congress would require it for federal elections.

A 2024 study by the Brennan Center for Justice found 9% of Americans don’t have ready access to their citizenship documents. We have links to the Voting Rights Lab tracker and more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

NPR – Concerns about noncitizen voting drive sweeping new restrictions in New Hampshire
New Hampshire Public Radio – NH Youth Movement sues to overturn new voter ID law

U.S. District Court for New Hampshire – Complaint in NH Youth Movement v. Scanlan
Voting Rights Lab – (requires free registration) Proof-of-Citizenship Legislation Tracking

Wyoming Legislature – SB 190 Documentary Citizenship Requirement
Missouri Legislature – SB 62 – Election law revision including documentary citizenship requirement
Democracy Docket – What’s Really Behind Republicans’ Push for Proof of Citizenship?
ALEC/Only Citizens Vote – Model Policy for Citizenship Requirement
U.S. Congress – 2025 SAVE Act

American Democracy Minute – The SAVE Act Could Disenfranchise Millions of Voters. It’s Been Fast Tracked in Congress.
Brennan Center for Justice – Millions of Americans Don’t Have Documents Proving Their Citizenship Readily Available

Groups Taking Action:

Declaration for American Democracy, Coalition for Open Democracy, League of Women Voters of New Hampshire, ACLU NH

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

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