CONCORD, N.H. — A lawsuit filed Monday challenges a New Hampshire legislation that might require proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote and picture identification when casting a poll, saying it is among the most restrictive voting legal guidelines within the nation.
The brand new legislation was set to take impact after the November elections. Republican Gov. Chris Sununu signed the invoice earlier this month.
The lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire in U.S. District Court docket in Harmony on behalf of the Coalition for Open Democracy, the League of Ladies Voters of New Hampshire, the Ahead Basis, and 5 voters. It names New Hampshire Legal professional Normal John Formella and Secretary of State David Scanlan as defendants.
Legal guidelines like this that “create unconstitutional roadblocks to voting and which might cease hundreds of eligible voters from collaborating in an election, haven’t any place in our state,” Henry Klementowicz, deputy authorized director on the ACLU of New Hampshire, stated in an announcement.
The lawsuit asks a decide to dam enforcement, saying federal courts have weighed in on the matter earlier than. A comparable legislation in Kansas, which required proof of citizenship for state and federal elections, was present in 2018 to violate each the U.S. Structure and the Nationwide Voter Registration Act.
In August 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court docket allowed some components of a legislation requiring proof of citizenship to be enforced in Arizona because the authorized battle continues in decrease courts. The ACLU of New Hampshire stated that Arizona doesn’t require proof of citizenship for federal elections.
Below New Hampshire’s present legislation, those that don’t convey picture IDs to the polls can signal an affidavit testifying to their id and are required to offer documentation inside seven days. The brand new legislation would eradicate voter identification exceptions and would require these registering to vote to point out a passport, beginning certificates or different proof of citizenship.
“This newly enacted voter registration requirement creates confusion, raises doubts for voters, and leaves them feeling hampered by the method,” Liz Tentarelli, president of the League of Ladies Voters New Hampshire, stated in an announcement Monday. “As a substitute of making pointless boundaries to voters, we want our elected officers to advance significant laws that ensures New Hampshire voters could make their voices heard.”
A spokesperson for the state legal professional common’s workplace, Michael Garrity stated in an announcement, “We are going to assessment the grievance and reply as acceptable.”
Sununu signed the invoice on Sept. 12. It’s set to turn into legislation two months after that.
“We’ve a proud custom and confirmed monitor file of situation elections which might be trusted and true,” he stated on the time. “Wanting ahead to the following decade or two, this laws will instill much more integrity and belief within the voting course of.”
Voting by noncitizens is prohibited in federal elections and isn’t allowed in any state elections, though a handful of municipalities nationwide permit it in restricted circumstances. Whereas unlawful voting by noncitizens is extraordinarily uncommon, the chance that it might occur on a wider scale due to the inflow of migrants on the southern border has turn into a theme of Republican marketing campaign messaging this 12 months.
In Washington, Republicans try to push by means of the SAVE Act, a proof-of-citizenship mandate for voters, as a part of wider laws geared toward avoiding a partial authorities shutdown this fall.
