Senate Pulls Lever on Another Voter ID Law

Along party lines, the New Hampshire Senate today passed a second, more restrictive voter ID measure. Earlier this month, a bill requiring voters to show valid photo identification or sign an affidavit was approved with the backing of Town Clerks and the Secretary of State.

This new Republican-backed legislation would require those seeking to vote in New Hampshire to also register their vehicles in the State and apply for a New Hampshire driver’s license.

Opponents of voter ID laws say that college students, minorities and seniors would be disproportionately impacted by its requirements.  

“This bill is part of a series of bills aimed at, what I think, is an extremely unlikely source of voting fraud,” says Senator Amanda Merrill, a Democrat from Durham.

Republicans say these measures are needed to prevent voter fraud and insure fair elections.