In a partisan vote, the House election law committee endorsed a bill on Tuesday that stiffens the requirements for people who register to vote within 30 days of an election. Senate Bill 3 now will go to the full House for a vote. The bill applies to people who register to vote within 30 days of an election and requires them to provide proof they live in New Hampshire and intend to stay. People who show up to the polls to register and don’t have a utility bill, a lease, a car registration or other documentation could still vote. But they have to sign a paper pledging to come back later with a required form of proof. Should a voter not return within 30 days, the bill gives local election officials authority to investigate suspected fraud.
Supporters say the bill needed to ensure people living here temporarily don’t participate in state elections, while opponents argue the legislation does little to prevent ineligible voters and will discourage college students, low-income residents and homeless people, among others, from voting.
The House version of the bill lets town elections officials refer any suspicious voter activity to the New Hampshire Secretary of State’s Office for further investigation, if supervisors of the checklist did not want to go to people’s houses and verify it themselves.
Full Article: N.H. Voter ID Bill Moves Forward.