The Poll Tax Returns... but not in the South.
College students in New Hampshire sued the state back in September over onerous new voter registration requirements:
College students have long been able to vote here while retaining residency in other states. But the Republican-controlled legislature voted to add a paragraph to registration forms requiring people to declare that they are subject to laws that apply to residents, including having to register their cars here and obtain a New Hampshire driver's license.
That contradicts other laws on the books defining residency versus 'voting domicile,' and because it includes fees, it's an unconstitutional 'poll tax' that impedes voting rights, the lawsuit claims.
But their lawsuit requests Strafford County Superior Court to order the secretary of state to reissue voter registration forms without the new paragraph, and to clarify on the website that people who count New Hampshire as their domicile for voting purposes do not have to obtain a driver's license or register their vehicles here, unless they intend to remain indefinitely.
Republican legislatures across the nation have apparently decided that they've already lost the youth and minority votes. Instead of realizing that they are cannibalizing their own demographic future, they are now implementing laws and regulations that intentionally inhibit these types of voters from voting.
New Hampshire is another state that has a new voter ID law, somewhat under-reported I believe, with some strict provisions that start next year:
There's also a controversial new voter ID requirement in New Hampshire, though people without ID can sign an affidavit, and some of the stricter parts of the law don't kick in until 2013. That, combined with the registration form, are making for a confusing landscape for college students, Fowler and other professors say.
Fortunately, the Obama campaign is doing what it can to help out these students, some 30,000 of the New Hampshire voting population:
"It's becoming a tool for folks to actually encourage participation," says Wayne Lesperance, director of the Center for Civic Engagement at New England College in Henniker, N.H. âPeople from the Obama campaign have said, "Look, they are trying to make it harder to vote; if you need a ride to the Department of Motor Vehicles [where state IDs are issued], we'll take you.' "
The lawsuit succeeded in blocking the changes, fortunately, and voter registration and eligibility for students, minorities, and the elderly is
proceeding apace:
Like legislatures across the country, the New Hampshire Legislature passed a new voter ID law this year that Republicans said was needed to prevent voter fraud. Democrats and voter advocacy groups vigorously fought the change and maintained it was really intended to discourage populations without New Hampshire driverâs licenses, like students, the elderly and minorities, from voting.
Lawmakers also rewrote the voter registration law, but a pending lawsuit has halted those most significant changes. The new laws took effect shortly before September and confusion followed.
Without much time to get up to speed for the primary, election officials at some polling places were misinformed and turned away some voters who didn't have a photo identification. Since then, Gardner and Attorney General Michael Delaney, as well as voter advocacy groups, have worked hard to bring election officials and voters up to speed.
Additionally, residents can obtain a temporary voter ID card for use in voting.
I'm glad to see it being amicably resolved, with none of the ridiculous Husted-style mendacity and recalcitrance. However, attacks on the rights of voters will continue as long as Republicans can obtain majorities in state legislatures. Do what you can in your state and local elections to halt the inroads these reactionaries are making. The presidential election is one thing... we need to turn out and GOTV in 2 years as well.