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New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, a Republican, signed legislation Thursday that requires identification to vote and hard proof of U.S. citizenship for first-time voters in the state.
“House Bill 1569 requires anyone registering to vote in New Hampshire to prove valid citizenship with documents such as a birth certificate, passport, or naturalization papers,” WMUR reports.
BREAKING: New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu has signed a bill to require proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote and photo identification when casting a ballot.
— Leading Report (@LeadingReport) September 13, 2024
However, the bill goes into effect after the 2024 election.
“The bill will take effect Nov. 11, and will not affect the upcoming Nov. 5 general election,” New Hampshire Bulletin noted.
New Hampshire Bulletin reports:
Republicans have said the bill is a straightforward way to ensure all voters are who they say they are and have U.S. citizenship without allowing them to attest to it on an affidavit and potentially lie. Democrats say the bill will disenfranchise voters who do not have birth certificates, passports, or other documents proving their citizenship and cannot get those documents in time, and argue it violates constitutionally protected voting rights.
Sununu’s decision to sign the bill is a change in position. For months, as HB 1569 advanced through the legislative process, Sununu suggested he would not support it, stating multiple times that he was “not looking into making significant changes in voting laws.”
“I think our system works well, we have really high voter turnout, the affidavit ballot and process seems to be working pretty darn well,” he said in March.
In the interview in Concord Thursday just after the Republican Unity Breakfast, Sununu acknowledged his previous skepticism of the bill. “I didn’t love it,” he said. But he added that that position has changed.
BREAKING: New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu has signed a bill requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration and photo identification when casting a ballot. pic.twitter.com/diiToHd3Hm
— Ian Jaeger (@IanJaeger29) September 13, 2024
Per WMUR:
The law does not take effect for another 60 days, meaning the new rules for voter identification and proof of citizenship will not yet be active for the general election in November.
“We have a proud tradition and proven track record of conducting elections that are trusted and true. Looking forward to the next decade or two, this legislation will instill even more integrity and trust in the voting process,” Sununu said in a statement.
The legislation, which was brought forward by state Rep. Robert Lynn, R-Windham, was among the most contested bills in what was a contentious year at the State House.
Lynn told News9 that while he does not believe there is rampant voter fraud in New Hampshire, he sees the new rules as reasonable guardrails to protect elections.
“It’s not unreasonable to require people to be responsible and to do the things that they’re supposed to do in order to be qualified to vote,” Lynn said.
WATCH:
Read the bill HERE.