BY PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org

CONCORD – Despite concern from a number of groups that it could disenfranchise voters, Gov. Chris Sununu signed House Bill 1569 which would eliminate any exceptions to the state’s Voting ID laws and require a birth certificate or passport.

Because the bill will not go into effect for 60 days from its signing Thursday, it will not impact the 2024 election cycle, which includes the Nov. 5 election and its earliest implementation date would be Nov. 12.

Sununu had previously said he had concerns about implementation of the bill too close to such an important election, when voters will go to the polls to select a new President, governor, two congressmen, the entire state Senate, House of Representatives and the Executive Council.

“We have a proud tradition and proven track record of conducting elections that are trusted and true. Looking forward to the next decade or two, this legislation will instill even more integrity and trust in the voting process.”

Sponsored by former Supreme Court Chief Justice and State Rep. Robert Lynn, R-Windham, the bill https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/billinfo.aspx?id=1198&inflect=2 was opposed by the New Hampshire Democracy Fund, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire, Open Democracy NH, the Kent Street Coalition, 603 Forward and the League of Women Voters.

House Democratic Leader Matt Wilhelm, D-Manchester, said “Governor Sununu’s signature on HB 1569, which would disenfranchise new voters and override election laws the GOP enacted just two years ago, underscores the bait and switch deception tactics that we have come to expect from New Hampshire Republicans.

“Nearly every election cycle, Republicans make unsubstantiated claims of widespread ‘voter fraud’ in New Hampshire to justify new restrictions on voting rights that they claim will solve the problem.  Despite reports from the Secretary of State’s office after every election debunking their outlandish claims, and a 2022 Special Committee on Voter Confidence report which recommended no changes to the affidavit process, Republicans continue to rinse and repeat with their next effort to further disenfranchise New Hampshire voters.

“When speaking publicly, Governor Sununu regularly acknowledges that New Hampshire’s elections are safe and secure. When asked about this legislation in June, Sununu said he ‘was not looking into making significant changes in voting laws.’  And just hours before signing HB 1569, Governor Sununu said our elections are ‘secure’ and ‘run very, very well.’ The circular talk and deception that we see from Republicans on voting rights should concern all of us. The fundamental freedoms of Granite Staters — including voting rights, reproductive rights, and labor rights — are all at risk.  Sununu’s signature on HB 1569 is just the latest example of why voters cannot trust the NH GOP.”

Today, voters in New Hampshire must present documents proving their identity, age, citizenship, and domicile, such as a driver’s license or non-driver ID from any state, birth certificate, U.S. Passport/Passcard, or naturalization document. These may be shown in paper or electronic form, and a Qualified Voter Affidavit may be signed, under oath, in lieu of the documents. 

The new law now removes any exceptions for proving voter identification, eliminating affidavits workarounds when the accepted documents can’t be shown for same-day voter registration.

Opponents say the law has potential to impact the voting rights of first-time voters, like students and working-age voters, new residents to the state, communities of color, and new Americans, as well as older adults, the housing insecure, and people who changed their name after marriage. 

The Granite State, they said, is among a minority of states that lack voting conveniences such as online and mail-in voter registration, registration through the DMV, automatic voter registration, and early voting without specific excuses. 

McKenzie St. Germain, director of the New Hampshire Campaign for Voting Rights said some people only have one form of identification and, some people have that one and no longer have their accurate name on it, or it has been lost and gone forever. 

“It is also worth noting that it also requires proof of identity, age, and domicile. For example, even if I have my passport, if I don’t have something of my age on it, I am turned away,” St. Germain said.

Louise Spencer, co-founder of the Kent Street Coalition, said voting rights are one of the volunteer group’s priorities and she said right now, “we are facing an imminent threat to our voting rights.”

“We are proud of our traditions,” she said. “We run fair, free and secure elections. We are known for it here in the state and across the country.”

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen criticized the bill.

“By signing this bill into law, Governor Sununu and New Hampshire Republicans are actively making it more difficult for Granite Staters to register to vote to make their voices heard in our elections and our democracy,” Shaheen said.

“They’re inventing a problem in search of a crisis that does not exist in our state. Under current law, non-citizens, including legal permanent residents, already are prohibited from voting in federal elections and no state currently allows non-citizens to vote in statewide elections. Discouraging participation in our democracy is as anti-American as it can get. As Governor, I twice vetoed voter identification legislation. While I’m relieved this won’t impact this year’s election, I will keep working to stop this from taking effect and limiting Granite Staters’ right to vote.”