Judge Voids New Hampshire's 2024 Voter Citizenship Law as State Plans Appeal

6 articles · Updated · New Hampshire Public Radio · May 29

A 98-page federal ruling immediately blocked New Hampshire from requiring first-time voters to show a passport or birth certificate at registration, restoring use of a legally binding affidavit at the polls.
Judge Samantha Elliott said the 2024 law imposed an unjustified burden on voting rights because trial evidence showed noncitizen voting was effectively absent, with just 1 prosecution in 26 years.
Nearly 40% of people lack a U.S. passport, testimony showed, and married women who changed their names could face mismatches with birth certificates under the requirement.
More than 10,000 first-time voters used affidavits on Election Day 2024, underscoring how many registrants could be affected in a state that allows same-day voter registration.
New Hampshire's Justice Department said it will appeal, defending the Republican-backed law even as state election officials testified the system is secure and widespread fraud is not evident.

With voter ID debates ongoing, can technology provide a secure alternative to paper documents for proving eligibility to vote?