The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for May, 12, 2023
Today’s Script: (Variations occur with audio due to editing for time)
Today’s Links now below the script
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
Thousands of students move to New Hampshire and live nine months of the year attending school. Under the state constitution’s “domicile” rules, those students may choose to vote in the state, or vote absentee in their originating state. And for decades, a college ID and apartment or dormitory address have been acceptable proof to register to vote in New Hampshire. But since 2011, some anti-democracy legislators have tried to stop them.
In 2018, Senate Bill 3 was signed by Gov. Chris Sununu, requiring a student claiming domicile to purchase a New Hampshire drivers license and register their car in the state. It was thrown out by the courts in 2020.
In 2020’s legislature, one bill proposed eliminating use of a dormitory address as qualifying for domicile. One attempted to eliminate college IDs for voting. In 2021, another bill would have eliminated same-day registration, used by over 48,000 people in the 2022, but often used by new students to register. Just this March, HB 405 proposed requiring students to have in-state tuition to qualify to vote, and to live in NH for 12 months of the year, unlike other state residents.
So far those bills have failed, but it shows the lengths that some anti-voter legislatures will go to keep college students from voting.
We have articles and groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Huffington Post – (2011) New Hampshire House Speaker William O’Brien Says ‘Foolish’ Students ‘Vote With Their Feelings’
UNH Today – Much Ado About Student Voters
NBC News – (2018) New Hampshire makes it tougher for students to vote. Democrats call it ‘devious’ suppression.
WBUR Boston – (2019) New Residency Law In N.H. Sparks Charges Of Voter Suppression And A Lawsuit
Governing – (2020) Court Strikes Down New Hampshire’s Voter Residency Law
Mother Jones – (2021) New Hampshire Republicans Wage War on Student Voting Rights
The Intercept – (2022) NEW HAMPSHIRE REPUBLICANS ARE THROWING VOTING RESTRICTIONS AT THE WALL AND SEEING WHAT STICKS
NH Public Radio –
New Hampshire Bulletin – (2023) Republicans seek major voting overhauls, but chances of success appear slim
Groups Taking Action:
Open Democracy Action, 603 Forward, NH Campaign for Voting Rights, League of Women Voters NH, ACLU NH, NH Youth Movement
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