A federal judge heard opening arguments Monday in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a 2024 state law that requires first-time voters in New Hampshire to show proof of U.S. citizenship when they register.
The trial over House Bill 1569, which was backed by Republicans and signed into law by then-Gov. Chris Sununu, is expected to last two weeks. A ruling by Judge Samantha Elliott is expected before this year’s primary elections.
The law is considered one of the strictest in the nation, requiring all first-time registrants in the state to bring a passport, birth certificate or naturalization papers to the polls. Previously, would-be voters who didn’t have certain documents with them could sign a legally binding affidavit confirming their qualifications before casting a ballot.
Catherine Denny, an attorney with the New Hampshire Department of Justice, defended the law as “common sense” during opening arguments Monday. She said the state has a significant interest in “promoting election integrity” and encouraging confidence in New Hampshire elections. While there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the state, polling from the University of New Hampshire has found that about a quarter of residents believe voter fraud is a problem in the state.
The law is being challenged by a range of groups and individual citizens, including the ACLU, New Hampshire Youth Movement, and the League of Women Voters. Henry Klementowicz, an attorney with the state chapter of the ACLU, said the law creates “significant and unnecessary burdens” for voters, including residents who have recently turned 18 and are registering for the first time. He also highlighted an alleged disproportionate impact on women, who may have changed their surnames because of marriage and need to show additional paperwork beyond a birth certificate when they register to vote.
Read the full story at www.nhpr.org
Featured Photo: NHPRVoters in Keene in 2022. Photo by Paul Cuno-Booth