New NH voter registration law challenged in Strafford County Superior Court
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September 15, 2012
Concord, New Hampshire: The League of Women Voters and the American Civil Liberties Union have sued the state of New Hampshire in the Strafford County Superior Court on behalf of four students who claim to be disenfranchised by a new state voter registration law. The law now requires voters registering to sign an affidavit claiming that New Hampshire is their home state and that they are subject to residency laws including drivers license requirements. Formerly, students at state universities were permitted to vote in state elections while still maintaining their primary residence outside of the state. House Speaker William O'Brien defended the law stating, "A fundamental premise of having elections that reflect the will of the citizens of a community or a state is that those who vote should be those who live in the city or town, and certainly the state, in which they are voting." However, Joan Ashwell, election law specialist for the League of Women Voters of New Hampshire argued, "Students are left with either signing a statement that doesn’t reflect New Hampshire laws or being forced to give up their constitutional right to vote." A hearing is scheduled for September 19.
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