Gov. Chris Sununu, R-N.H., signed a no-excuse voter identification and proof-of-citizenship bill into law last week, but it will not go into effect until six days after this year’s election.
The law, which passed the state’s Republican-majority House and Senate earlier this year, will require New Hampshire voters to provide proof of citizenship to apply for registration, as well as a photo ID when casting a ballot. In the event a person can’t show a valid ID, the supervisor may “review the voter’s qualifications and determine if the voter’s identity can be verified.”
“If the supervisor of the checklist determines that the voter’s qualifications and identity have not been established, the voter shall not be allowed to vote,” the law clarifies.
Current law allows people to show up to the polls without an ID, cast a ballot, and sign an affidavit promising that they are who they claim to be. It does not require voters to produce documentation until seven days after an election.
“I think this is a great bill and one needed in New Hampshire given its law allowing same day voter registration,” Hans von Spakovsky, Heritage Foundation senior legal fellow and manager of the Election Law Reform Initiative, told The Federalist. “Although it would have been good to have it in effect for this election, given that it only just got passed and just got signed into law so close to the election would probably make it extremely difficult for election officials to implement it before the
