House Election Law Committee hears broad opposition to limits on student IDs and expanded voter ID/domicile rules

CONCORD, N.H. — The House Election Law Committee heard hours of testimony Tuesday on multiple bills that would narrow the range of photo identification acceptable to obtain a ballot and tighten rules for establishing domicile, prompting broad opposition from student groups, election officials and disability advocates.

Yuri Polozov, speaking for a bill sponsor, told the committee the primary intent behind House Bill 684 is to "make elections accessible but also secure," introducing a proposal to prohibit use of student identification cards to obtain a ballot. But dozens of witnesses representing student groups, municipal moderators, voting-rights organizations and disability advocates urged the committee not to adopt the change.

Witnesses said student identification cards are commonly carried, are used by university systems as proof of identity, and help students participate in New Hampshire elections. Lucas Corriati, president of the University of New Hampshire Democrats, described working to register students and said student ID cards were “by far the most convenient” method many students used to vote. Dartmouth students…