http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/voter-primaries-s5.jpg“Documents proving citizenship are not only unnecessary to prove eligibility to cast a ballot, but the requirement often deters voters from casting a ballot at all,” said Priorities USA.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On September 17th, the New Hampshire Youth Movement filed a complaint supported by Priorities USA for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief against HB1569.

HB1569, which was signed into law by New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu on September 12th, will make it substantially harder for New Hampshire citizens to register and vote by requiring new voters to show documentation of their proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, passport, naturalization papers, or other unspecified documentation, before they may cast a ballot. 

Although the bill will not take effect until after the November 2024 election, onerous documentation requirements like this serve as another form of voter suppression. Disenfranchisement as a result of this bill is certain to fall disproportionately on identifiable groups, including, but not limited to students and young people—who are less likely to have ready access to the limited set of documents with which they must now prove their citizenship. 

Under current law, voters without proof of citizenship documentation may vote by signing an affidavit attesting that they are citizens, making existing law more than adequate to deter noncitizens from voting. Non-citizens who register or vote face civil and criminal liability under New Hampshire law and federal law. They also render themselves permanently “inadmissible” under federal immigration law, which can lead to deportation and will prevent them from ever renewing a visa, becoming a naturalized citizen, or returning to the United States if they leave. There is no evidence that any meaningful number of noncitizens have voted anywhere in the United States, much less specifically in New Hampshire. 

“Documents proving citizenship are not only unnecessary to prove eligibility to cast a ballot, but the requirement often deters voters from casting a ballot at all,” said Danielle Butterfield, Executive Director of Priorities USA. “We’ve seen many attempts over the years by Republicans in office to suppress voter turnout in New Hampshire, and we hope that our complaint will help change course to ensure that everyone has the right to freely and legally cast their ballot.”

"This extreme legislation will make registering to vote harder and prevent eligible voters from casting ballots. New Hampshire is already the most difficult state to vote in, and this law further restricts citizens' ability to exercise their fundamental right," said Sayles Kasten, Executive Director of New Hampshire Youth Movement.