NH Voter Suppression Bill Eliminates Sworn Affidavits for Voter Registration, Demanding Citizenship Documents for Otherwise Qualified Voters. It Could Disenfranchise Thousands.

Brian Beihl

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for June 14, 2024

Today’s Script

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

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

A voter suppression bill aimed at students and younger voters in New Hampshire has moved forward in the state’s legislature.  It requires proof of citizenship papers from every registering voter, and could disenfranchise thousands.

HB 1569 would end decades of allowing a citizen registering who can’t immediately access citizenship papers to use a sworn affidavit instead. It also requires narrow options for photo ID when voting, also with no opportunity for a sworn affidavit. There is almost no evidence of abuse of the sworn affidavit, for which lying brings fines or prison.  

The bill is the latest in a decade of GOP bills to target thousands of New Hampshire’s student voters, who are domiciled in the state most of the year and may register and vote if they qualify. GOP attempts to change domicile rules, end same-day registration, and require in-state tuition, have all failed in the legislature or courts. 

Such a bill doesn’t just affect students, however.  A new survey by the Brennan Center for Justice suggests that 21 million voting eligible Americans don’t have ready access to proof of citizenship.  HB 1569 is one of a number around the country targeting specific populations, including Black, Brown and Native Americans.

Governor Chris Sununu has not said whether he would sign the bill. Litigation is likely if he does.

Find out more and see the groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
NH General Court – HB 1569 Text
Democracy Docket – New Hampshire Republicans Pass Bill Removing Exceptions to Voter ID Requirement
NH Public Radio – NH Senate backs stricter proof of eligibility rules for new voters
New Hampshire Bulletin – Secretary of state predicts ‘challenges,’ litigation if voter ID bill becomes law
Indepth NH – Voting Rights Groups Confront Scanlan for His Take on Proposed Voting Legislation
Bolts Magazine – New Hampshire Republicans Try to Require Proof of Citizenship to Register to Vote
Brennan Center for Justice – Millions of Americans Don’t Have Documents Proving Their Citizenship Readily Available

Groups Taking Action:

Open Democracy Action, League of Women Voters NH, ACLU NH, Kent Street Coalition, 603Forward

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