Federal Judge Overturns New Hampshire Voter Law

A federal judge has invalidated a New Hampshire law that prevented new voters from using sworn affidavits to establish their citizenship without official documents. This law, passed in 2024, was deemed by the court to impose an unjustified burden on voting rights.

Judge Samantha D. Elliott of the U.S. District Court in New Hampshire issued the ruling. She stated that the elimination of affidavits for proving citizenship violated the First and 14th Amendments. This decision led to the immediate rejection of the law signed by then-Governor Chris Sununu.

New Hampshire’s Justice Department plans to appeal. Spokesman Michael Garrity described the law as a common-sense measure for safeguarding election integrity.

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire challenged the law, representing groups like the League of Women Voters of New Hampshire. Henry Klementowicz of the state A.C.L.U. argued that the law risked unconstitutionally barring thousands of eligible voters from participating in elections.

Judge Elliott noted that instances of wrongful voting did not decrease after the law’s implementation, citing similar complaint numbers filed with the state attorney general before and after the law’s passage.