Urge Governor Ayotte to VETO HB 323

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Email Subject:

Dear [Your Elected Official],

HB 323 would require voters to present a government-issued photo ID to receive a ballot, eliminating the use of student IDs at the polls.
But by the time someone arrives at a polling place in New Hampshire, they are already a registered voter. During registration, voters must prove age, citizenship, identity, and domicile. At the polls, the purpose of showing identification is simply to confirm that the person standing there is the same person who registered.
Both government-issued IDs and student IDs can accomplish that.
Removing student IDs as an acceptable form of identification does not strengthen election integrity, it simply creates barriers for eligible voters. New Hampshire is home to many colleges and universities, and many students rely on their campus ID as their most accessible form of identification.
Students may not have immediate access to other documents for a number of common reasons:
<ul>
<li>A passport may be kept at a family home for safekeeping.</li>
<li>A driver’s license may have expired if a student does not drive or is not permitted to keep a car on campus.</li>
<li>A voter may be waiting for a replacement ID after losing one.</li>
</ul>
These voters are already verified and eligible. Preventing them from using a student ID does not stop noncitizens from voting, it simply makes it harder for eligible students to access their ballot.
Restrictions that disproportionately burden young voters are increasingly challenged under established constitutional standards, including the Anderson–Burdick framework and the 26th Amendment, exposing states to costly and lengthy litigation.
New Hampshire’s own 2022 Special Committee on Voter Confidence, along with Secretary of State David Scanlon, found no evidence of widespread voter fraud in our state. Instead of creating new barriers, lawmakers should focus on strengthening voter confidence through the practical recommendations already identified in that report.
New Hampshire should welcome young people who choose to study, work, and build their lives here. Policies that make it harder for them to participate in our democracy send the wrong message about the kind of state we want to be.
For these reasons, we respectfully urge you to VETO HB 323.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your City & State]

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Summary

HB 323 would eliminate student IDs as an acceptable form of identification at the polls, creating unnecessary barriers for eligible voters who have already proven their age, citizenship, identity, and domicile when registering to vote. Student IDs can confirm identity just like other forms of photo identification. This bill does not strengthen election integrity and risks constitutional challenges while making it harder for students to access their ballot. Urge Governor Ayotte to VETO HB 323.

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