States Should Expand – Not Restrict – Access to Ballot

Lauren Harmon argues that states must make voting and civic participation more accessible for every eligible voter.

Next week, voters in New Hampshire will cast their ballots in two hotly contested presidential primaries that could determine the direction of the rest of the election. But this year, thanks to a new state voter ID law, many New Hampshire voters’ voices may not be heard at all.

In presidential election years, particularly when there are open contests for both parties, voter excitement is at an all-time high. If past is precedent, more than three times as many New Hampshire voters may go to the polls as in regular, non-presidential state primary years. But this year, for the first time in the New Hampshire presidential primary, voters must show photo identification before they can cast a ballot. If voters can’t produce the ID, they will have to sign an affidavit and then mail a letter back to elections officials confirming their voter eligibility.

The above excerpt was originally published in InsideSources. Click here to view the full article.

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