New Hampshire
New Hampshire to tighten voting laws, peddling MAGA election misinformation
New Hampshire lawmakers are set to make it harder for eligible voters in the state to register to vote, now requiring proof of citizenship documents — either passport, birth certificate, or naturalization papers — to register.
Republicans in the state’s legislature passed a bill through both chambers to axe the state’s previous citizenship scheme, which permitted an affidavit in cases when citizen voters couldn’t obtain documents. In many other states, a Social Security number or affidavit is commonly used in place of document requirements.
Republican sponsors of the bill echo former President Donald Trump and other conspiracy theorists’ baseless claims that undocumented or noncitizen voting was widespread in the 2016 and 2020 elections. This widely debunked misinformation has propelled numerous states to tighten their voter laws, most directly impacting eligible voters from already disenfranchised backgrounds.
New Hampshire, which already limits voters to exclusively in-person registration, would become one of the most restrictive states in the U.S., the only one to require physical citizenship documentation to register voters.
Per local paper Seacoast Online, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, a Republican, has not publicly stated a position on the bill, which heads to his desk. Sununu recently made news for flipping his stance on Trump, announcing his support for Trump’s 2024 campaign after supporting Nikki Haley and blasting Trump’s argument that he is immune to criminal prosecution.
The bill will disenfranchise citizen voters, the Nashua, New Hampshire City Clerk Dan Healey told Bolts Magazine.
“We’re very concerned with denying eligible voters the right to vote on election day because there’s really no cure in place for them to then be able to vote,” he said. “As far as I can see, it’s unnecessary . . . they’re trying to cure something that’s really not a problem.”
There are several reasons that voters may not have immediate access to proof of citizenship documents, with a recent study from the Brennan Center for Justice finding that around 9% of Americans, and 11% of people of color, don’t have these documents readily available. Nearly 4 million Americans say their proof of citizenship documents are lost or destroyed.
Among other groups who struggle to provide such documents are out-of-state students, recent arrivals and elderly Americans.
The federal government has activated the New Hampshire National Guard’s 157th Air Refueling Wing in connection with the war with Iran.
“I’ve had a briefing myself, a classified briefing, but it’s really important on the messaging on this that we really coordinate with the Pentagon,” Gov. Kelly Ayotte told reporters during a press briefing following Wednesday’s Executive Council meeting.
Ayotte said she was unable to share additional details about the nature of the New Hampshire National Guard’s activity related to the conflict, including how many guard members have been activated or what role they are playing.
“We’re going to respect what messaging comes out of the Pentagon just to make sure that our men and women in uniform are fully protected and that we aren’t providing any information that could be used in a way that would be harmful to them,” Ayotte said.
In a statement Thursday, Ayotte said the unit had been deployed in late February to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of the operation.
Earlier this week, Pentagon officials confirmed that members of the Vermont National Guard were involved in attacks against Iran over the weekend, though our news partners at Vermont Public were not able to confirm additional details on the nature of the operation.
During the briefing with local reporters, Ayotte also stressed her support for servicemembers and those close to them.
“I have such respect for our men and women in uniform,” Ayotte said. “As you know, I come from a military family, and they have our full support, and we appreciate them and their families, and obviously anyone who is serving right now, and my thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost someone that they love.”
By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD – While Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said she opposes increasing highway toll rates across the state, the Senate voted Thursday to increase rates for out-of-state license plate holders.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
This would be a $1 increase for those who have out of state plates going through the tolls at Hooksett, Hampton and Bedford for out-of-state plates, a 75 cent hike for those taking Hampton’s Exit 2 and on the Spaulding turnpike at Rochester, and a 50 cent hike for those taking the exit off I-93 to Hooksett.
An analysis in the bill shows that this would increase toll revenue by $53.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and go up each year to generate $81.4 million a year in 2036.
Senate Bill 627 passed on a voice vote with two Republicans, Senators Regina Birdsell of Hampstead and William Gannon of Sandown opposing.
Senator Mark E. McConkey, R-Freedom, moved to take the bill off the table and offered an amendment.
He said the last time there was a systemwide increase to the turnpike toll was 19 years ago.
“I am sure we could all agree the cost of operations…has continued to escalate when revenue is not rising with it,” and he noted that with an enterprise fund, the state can only spend what it takes in.
The state has just completed a 10-year highway plan and there was a $400 million shortfall in projects that could not be paid for under the current income.
McConkey said the measure would not increase tolls for New Hampshire drivers with a state license plate.
“Why don’t we ask our neighbors,” to pay a toll increase. “We are getting the best of all worlds,” by passing the bill, he said, including “protecting our residents” and having resources for improvements to the turnpike system.
Sen. Gannon, R-Sandown, asked McConkey if there are any studies on impacts near the border on businesses.
If implemented, McConkey said the state will be the 27th lowest in per mile cost still. McConkey said the bill would also increase from seven to 14 days the amount of time for those with NH license plates to pay for a toll adding there are other states that also have different rates for out-of-state users.
The Hampton toll cost would go from $2 to $3, while Hooksett and Bedford would rise from $1 to $2 for out-of-state plates.
New Hampshire currently has the lowest rate per mile among states with tolls roads.
The governor said she does not support a toll increase.
“We are not going to put a burden on drivers for a toll increase,” Ayotte said. “Families are struggling.”
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