Judge Strikes Down New Hampshire Voter Law

A federal judge has overturned a New Hampshire law that restricted new voters from using a sworn affidavit to prove their citizenship without official documents. This decision, made by Judge Samantha D. Elliott of the U.S. District Court in New Hampshire, found that removing affidavits as proof added an unjustifiable burden on citizens’ right to vote. It violated the First and 14th Amendments.

The law, passed in 2024 and signed by then-Republican Governor Chris Sununu, faced immediate invalidation by the ruling. A spokesman for New Hampshire’s Justice Department, Michael Garrity, announced the state’s intention to appeal the decision. He described the law as a common-sense approach designed to ensure election integrity.

Challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire, the law was criticized for potentially preventing thousands of eligible voters from participating in elections. The League of Women Voters of New Hampshire was among the organizations opposing the law.

Henry Klementowicz, deputy legal director for the state A.C.L.U., emphasized that New Hampshire’s elections have been historically secure. He cautioned that the law might have unjustly restricted voters without improving election security.

Judge Elliott highlighted that reports of improper voting did not decrease after the law’s implementation. Similar numbers of reports were filed with the state attorney general before and after the law’s enactment.