CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The New Hampshire House on Thursday passed a group of bills on voter eligibility, including two addressing photo identification.
The Republican-led House said the bills are designed to increase confidence in voting, but Democrats said they make voting more difficult.
One bill on absentee ballot applications allows for the “pre-verification” of a returned absentee ballot when it’s been mailed to a place other then recorded domicile of the voter. The voter would include photo identification or have their signature notarized. Opponents said the bill would likely discourage absentee voting.
Another bill would require someone who registers to vote without any identification to have a photo taken before voting is completed. Opponents said the bill would wrongfully prevent legitimate voters from voting, such as nursing home residents that don’t have a recent form of identification and some people who subscribe to a religion that prohibits them from having a photo taken of themselves.
Other bills would modify procedures to remove from voter checklists deceased voters, duplicate names and people who have moved, and would require town and city clerks to make absentee ballot voter lists available for public inspection.
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