A split is shaping up between the House and Senate over how — or whether — to proceed with the next phase in the state’s controversial voter photo ID law. The House refused to repeal the law, but wants to stop the next phase that would force election workers to photograph voters without an acceptable ID. A Senate committee, meanwhile, is recommending the state delay requiring election workers to take photos until 2015 to see how the law works in the 2014 election. The Senate panel would reduce the number of acceptable IDs voters could use at the polls. Opponents maintain eliminating a specific reference to student IDs could compromise the rights of student voters.
The full Senate is expected to consider the issue later this month.
“It is still in a state of uncertainty,” Deputy Secretary of State David Scanlan said.
“The hope of the ACLU is they are able to come to agreement on a bill that does not unfairly target student voters,” NH ACLU executive director Devon Chaffee said.
The debate centers on House Bill 595. It passed the House, 184-122.
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