The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Jan. 15, 2026
New Hampshire legislators are making another attempt to end the use of student IDs as voter identification, claiming such IDs were prone to fraud and advancing a bill to further narrow acceptable options. Such fraud is almost non-existent, and pro-voter groups say it’s partisan voter suppression.
The New Hampshire Bulletin reports that GOP House Bill 323 passed the New Hampshire House January 7th, limiting acceptable voter ID to a driver’s license, a non-driver ID, U.S. passport or military ID. Currently, IDs issued by any recognized high school or college are acceptable, provided the voter meets age, citizenship and residency requirements. Should the senate pass the bill and Governor Kelly Ayotte sign it, it will undoubtedly be challenged.
Another bill, a constitutional amendment requiring citizens to QUOTE “actually reside” in the state as a requirement for voting, failed its required two-thirds vote. Current New Hampshire election law allows residents to vote who “domicile,” or live the majority of their time in the state, to vote, including students coming from out of state. In 2021, the New Hampshire Supreme Court struck down earlier legislation requiring voters to prove their intent to stay in the state.
Such laws have little to do with so-called ‘election integrity,’ and more to do with restricting tens of thousands of younger, more liberal voters.
We’ve linked the local reporting and text of the bills at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
American Democracy Minute – (2025) Voter Suppression Bills Aimed at College Students Pushed (Again) by the NH Legislature
New Hampshire Bulletin – Citing security, Republicans push to exclude student ID cards from voting verification
NH Legislature – Text of House Bill 323
NH Legislature – Text of CACR 4
NH Municipal Association – (2018) Voter Registration Law Changes: Senate Bill 3
New Hampshire Bulletion – (2021) In blow to state’s Republicans, Supreme Court strikes down voter registration law
Democratic Erosion Consortium – The Dangers of Disenfranchising College Students in New Hampshire
Groups Taking Action:
Open Democracy Action, League of Women Voters NH, NH Youth Movement
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
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