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Governor signs controversial voter residency bill

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On Friday, July 13 Gov. Chris Sununu signed HB 1264, a bill that requires voters to abide by residency laws.

That means if you want to vote in New Hampshire, you are also obligated to register your car and get your driver’s license from the state government.

About residency versus domicile

Prior to this bill voters only needed to declare New Hampshire as their domicile, meaning they live most of the year in New Hampshire. This allowed college students and other transient workers to vote in New Hampshire while keeping another state as their legal residence for car registration, taxes, etc.

Sununu signed HB 1264 after three of the five New Hampshire Supreme Court justices decided the bill was constitutional.

Learn more about voter residency and domicile laws

Support for voter residency restrictions

Supporters of HB 1264 note that while the bill may add some steps for college students who wish to vote, every citizen still has the exact same right to vote in New Hampshire. HB 1264 will decrease voter fraud by requiring voters to demonstrate a commitment to New Hampshire.

Criticism of voter residency restrictions

Opponents of HB 1264 argue that by requiring college students and other temporary residents to register cars, the bill imposes an unjust financial burden on some voters.

Gov. Sununu has also faced criticism for a December interview about HB 1264 in which he said, “I will never support anything that suppresses the student vote. End of story.”

Despite the Supreme Court opinion, a lawsuit over HB 1264 is still possible.

Do you have an opinion on voter residency laws? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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