CONTACT: Gilles Bissonnette, ACLU-NH Legal Director, 603-224-5591, gilles@aclu-nh.org
CONCORD, NH – Today the New Hampshire Senate voted to pass HB 1264 with a pushed back implementation date, a nearly identical bill to HB372, and send it back to the New Hampshire House for approval. HB 1264, which passed the Senate earlier this year, is nearly identical to HB 372 and would require individuals to obtain a New Hampshire driver’s license and car registration after they vote, effectively implementing a post-election poll tax that will disproportionately impact citizens including snow birds and medical residents, and especially New Hampshire’s college students.
“With the decision to advance HB 1264 with a pushed back implementation date, Granite State conservatives are proving that they have been so focused on limiting eligible voters’ access to the ballot that not only are they moving identical bills forward, but they haven't even figured out how to enforce these bills,” said America Votes New Hampshire State Director Liz Wester. “Lawmakers must shift their attention to addressing the many real threats to the security of our electoral system ahead of the midterm elections. Governor Sununu must remain steadfast in his opposition to these damaging measures and veto both bills when they reach his desk.”
“HB 1264 would disproportionately impact eligible voters who live in New Hampshire, including college students and other individuals who know that they will be moving from New Hampshire at a later date. These Granite Staters actively participate in local affairs – they volunteer in our schools; hospitals and soup kitchens; work for local employers; spend money in local stores; and pay rent to local landlords. They are stakeholders in our communities and should be able to exercise their constitutionally-protected right to vote without having to pay fees as a condition of exercising this sacred vote,” said American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire Legal Director Gilles Bissonnette. “This bill is bad policy and it intimidates eligible NH voters. This is not the attitude for which our First-In-The-Nation state should become known. We encourage the Governor to veto this bill, as he has publicly stated his opposition to this bill.”