The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for April 9, 2026
With Governor Kelly Ayotte’s signature, New Hampshire became the latest GOP-led state to ban use of student IDs for voting purposes. It’s a long sought-after tool to make voting harder for high school and college students, despite no evidence of widespread misuse.
The signing of HB 323 adds to a growing list of legislation designed to keep students who claim domicile during the school year at the state’s public and private schools and colleges from voting in state elections. It takes effect in June.
A 2020 law added restrictions needed to prove domicile, where you spend most of your nights during the year, but that law was later struck down in federal court. In 2022, the legislature implemented provisional ballots for same-day registration, used by many students. In 2024, it eliminated sworn affidavits, allowing voters, subject to fines or imprisonment, to attest to domicile or citizenship in order to register and vote. Students often don’t have access to their citizenship documents while attending college, and many don’t have driver’s licenses.
The Campus Vote Project counts 11 other states which have banned student IDs for voting, including Idaho, Indiana, Ohio, Texas, Arizona, Iowa, Missouri, Montana,Tennessee, South Carolina and very recently, Florida. Another five have only narrow exceptions.
We’ve linked to the local reporting at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
NH General Court – Text of HB 323, Eliminating Student IDs for Voting Purposes
New Hampshire Bulletin – Ayotte signs bill barring use of student IDs to vote
New Hampshire Public Radio – Student IDs no longer permitted for NH voter identification
Voting Rights Lab – 2026 Bills on Use of Student IDs for Voting
Campus Vote Project – Student ID as Voter ID
NH Municipal Association – (2020) SB 3 Struck Down by the Court as Unconstitutional for Unreasonably Burdening the Right to Vote and Violating Equal Protection Under the New Hampshire Constitution
Related ADM Reports:
American Democracy Minute – New Hampshire Legislators Make Yet Another Attempt at Keeping Students from Voting, Further Tightening Voter ID Regulations
American Democracy Minute – (2023) Eliminating College IDs Isn’t the Only Tactic to Stop Students from Voting. Just Ask New Hampshire.
Groups Taking Action:
NH Campaign for Voting Rights, Open Democracy Action, NH Youth Movement
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky Social, and SHARE!
Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org
Want ADM sent to your email? Sign up here!
Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX
#News #Democracy #DemocracyNews #StudentIDs #VoterID #NHPolitics #NewHampshire #VoterSuppression