Student ID Ban Sparks Federal Lawsuit Against New Hampshire Election Law
A federal suit challenges New Hampshire's new rule that bars college IDs from being used for voter registration and ballot casting, saying it unlawfully burdens young voters.
The Coalition for Open Democracy has sued New Hampshire in federal court, contending that a recent statute eliminates the ability to use college identification cards for voter registration and ballot voting, thereby imposing an unconstitutional burden on student voters. Enacted by Governor Kelly Ayotte, the law now requires a federal-issued photo ID, an out-of-state driver’s license, ID card, or passport to participate in elections.
The complaint asserts that Secretary of State David Scanlan improperly broadened the requirement to the registration process, violating the state constitution’s separation-of-powers clause. Plaintiffs claim the rule discriminates based on age and unlawfully amends election statutes without legislative consent. Republicans praised the measure as a fraud-prevention step, while the state’s 2022 voter confidence report found fraud to be rare. A similar identification law signed by former Governor Chris Sununu was struck down by a federal judge, and the current case keeps the student ID ban in a state of uncertainty.
Why it matters
The case could reshape voting access for college students and set precedent for ID requirements nationwide.
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