The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Hampshire filed a complaint for injunctive and declaratory relief in the US District Court for the District of New Hampshire on Monday challenging the state’s new voter identification law.

The legal action targets legislation requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration and photo identification for casting ballots. The ACLU contends that the law’s strict requirements could disenfranchise numerous eligible voters, particularly those from marginalized communities who may face difficulties obtaining the necessary documentation. Additionally, the plaintiffs cite a 2018 federal court ruling that invalidated a similar law in Kansas, which required proof of citizenship for state and federal elections. That law was found to violate both the US Constitution and the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of several organizations including the Coalition for Democracy, League of Voters for New Hampshire, and the Forward Foundation, as well as five individual voters. New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella and Secretary of State David Scanlan are named as defendants, reflecting ongoing debates about the balance between election security measures and ensuring broad access to voting rights.

Henry Klementowicz, deputy legal director for the ACLU of New Hampshire, stated that laws creating “unconstitutional roadblocks to voting” should not be permitted, as they may prevent thousands of eligible individuals from casting their ballots. Meanwhile, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office has acknowledged receipt of the ACLU’s lawsuit in a statement made to local news but has refrained from further comment.

The lawsuit reflects a larger national trend toward legal challenges to voter ID laws in the US. In March, a federal judge in Arizona upheld two state laws that require voters to provide documentation to prove their citizenship before registering to vote. A conflicting precedent struck down the laws, with the Supreme Court refusing to listen to an appeal in December 2020. At the federal level, Republican lawmakers are pushing for similar legislation, including the proposed SAVE Act, which aims to implement a nationwide proof-of-citizenship requirement for voting. The outcome of this lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for voter identification laws, potentially shaping the landscape of voting rights and electoral participation in future elections.

One person has died in a house fire in New Hampshire, the state fire marshal said late Monday night.

The fatal fire happened at 203 Pease Road in Meredith at approximately 4 p.m. Monday, State Fire Marshal Sean Toomey said in a statement.

Late Monday afternoon, the fire department received reports that there were two people trapped inside the home.

When firefighters arrived, they found “significant fire and smoke” coming from the second story of the single-family home, Toomey said.

Once inside, firefighters found a person dead in the home, he said. The person was not immediately identified pending an autopsy on Tuesday to determine cause and manner of death.

Two other residents were able to evacuate from the home safely.

Several other area fire departments assisted from communities including Laconia, Gilford, Moultonborough, Holderness, Bristol, Center Harbor, New Hampton and Ashland. Police from Meredith and Laconia also responded.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is active and ongoing by the State Fire Marshal’s Office and Meredith Police and Fire.

Anyone with information about the deadly fire is encouraged to contact the State Fire Marshal’s Office at 603-223-4289 or by email at fmo@dos.nh.gov.

Toomey reminds everyone of the importance of having working smoke alarms in their homes.

In the event of an alarm activation or visible smoke or fire, residents should immediately get out of their home and call 911.

“Keep exits clear and accessible at all times and have a home fire escape plan,” Toomey said.

Anyone with questions about home fire safety should contact their local fire department or the NH State Fire Marshal’s Office, he said.

Meredith is a small town in the Lakes Region, north of Weirs Beach. The town’s population was 6,662 at the 2020 census.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) filed a lawsuit on Monday challenging New Hampshire’s new voter ID law that requires proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote and photo identification at the polls.

The lawsuit, filed by the ACLU of New Hampshire on behalf of the Coalition for Open Democracy, the League of Women Voters of New Hampshire, the Forward Foundation and five voters, aims to block the state law claiming that the law imposes some of the most restrictive voting measures in the country and threatens to disenfranchise thousands of eligible voters.

The lawsuit was submitted to the U.S. District Court in Concord just weeks after Republican Governor Chris Sununu signed the bill, which is set to take effect following the November elections. The legal action names New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella and Secretary of State David Scanlan as defendants, and the suit argues that such laws are unconstitutional.

Laws like this that “create unconstitutional roadblocks to voting and which could stop thousands of eligible voters from participating in an election, have no place in our state,” Henry Klementowicz, deputy legal director at the ACLU of New Hampshire, said in a statement.

Currently, New Hampshire voters without photo identification can sign an affidavit affirming their identity and are required to provide documentation within seven days. However, the new law eliminates these exceptions and mandates citizenship proof, such as a passport or birth certificate, at the time of voter registration.

Newsweek reached out to ACLU of New Hampshire and Sununu’s office via email on Monday evening for comment.

Liz Tentarelli, president of the League of Women Voters New Hampshire, condemned the law, stating that it “creates confusion, raises doubts for voters, and leaves them feeling hampered by the process.”

“Instead of creating unnecessary barriers to voters, we need our elected officials to advance meaningful legislation that ensures New Hampshire voters can make their voices heard,” Tentarelli added.

The lawsuit seeks to block the law’s enforcement, saying federal courts have weighed in on the matter before.

The legal action follows a similar case in Kansas, where a law mandating proof of citizenship for state and federal elections was struck down in 2018 for violating the U.S. Constitution and the National Voter Registration Act.

Despite the Kansas ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court in August 2024 allowed some parts of a law requiring proof of citizenship to be enforced in Arizona as the legal fight continues in lower courts.

According to The Associated Press, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office acknowledged the ACLU lawsuit but did not provide further comment, stating: “We will review the complaint and respond as appropriate.”

Sununu, a vocal supporter of the law, defended the legislation as a step toward preserving the integrity of the state’s election process, claiming it would enhance trust in future elections.

“We have a proud tradition and proven track record of condition elections that are trusted and true,” Sununu said when he signed the bill on September 12. “Looking forward to the next decade or two, this legislation will instill even more integrity and trust in the voting process.”

Meanwhile, Republican efforts at the federal level continue to push for similar measures, with the proposed SAVE Act, a nationwide proof-of-citizenship mandate, also under discussion.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.