skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Sunday, November 3, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Trump attacks Liz Cheney using violent war imagery; Election insights: What 50 Ohioans want to hear from candidates; Consumer groups slam CA Supreme Court ruling on lemon law; On National Brush Day, new resources in KY to boost oral health.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Harris says her campaign is prepared for Trump to prematurely claim victory, Pennsylvania election officials say safeguards in the system are preventing vote fraud, and Montana Senate race could hinge on the "political refugee" vote.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

A Cambodian poultry farmer who lost his livelihood could be a hero for others, rural Montanans are anxiously awaiting a court ruling over a climate lawsuit brought by young people, and Northeast states say more housing for working families could boost jobs.

Voting rights groups sue to block NH proof-of-citizenship law

play audio
Play

Monday, October 7, 2024   

Voting-rights groups in New Hampshire have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the state's new election law, which requires proof of citizenship for first-time voters.

It also does away with the affidavit system, which allows people without photo ID to sign a legal document swearing to their voter eligibility.

Henry Klementowicz, deputy legal director at the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire, says thousands of voters could be impacted.

"Voter fraud is vanishingly rare in New Hampshire, citizenship fraud even more so," said Klementowicz. "What is to be gained by just fencing all these people out of our elections?"

State Republicans claim the law is needed to not only prevent fraud, but boost public confidence in the election system.

Democrats say it creates needless barriers for people who can't access the required legal documents.

The law will take effect November 11 and will not impact the upcoming election on November 5.

Critics of the new law say changes to the state's voter challenge process also create opportunities for abuse.

Under current law, if a voter's eligibility is questioned at the polls, the election moderator on site can resolve the dispute - allowing that person to cast a ballot and sign an affidavit to attest to his or her identity.

Klementowicz said with affidavits now gone, challenged voters must head to court.

"There's a theoretical right of appeal to the Superior Court," said Klementowicz. "It costs over $200. They're not open as late as the polls are on Election Day. It can take hours if you're lucky."

Klementowicz called the law unconstitutional as well as one of the most restrictive in the country. A similar bill in Kansas requiring proof of citizenship to vote was struck down by a federal judge in 2018.

Support for this reporting was provided by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.





get more stories like this via email
more stories
The Klamath River was once home to the third largest salmon run on the West Coast. (Piotr Wawrzyniuk/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

Wild Chinook salmon have returned to the Upper Klamath River less than two months after the largest dam-removal project in U.S. history to remove …


Social Issues

play sound

Millions of Californians buy used cars still under a manufacturer's warranty - but consumer groups say those warranties are now essentially unenforcea…

Environment

play sound

As North Carolina communities continue to pick up the pieces after Hurricane Helene, they have faced a new obstacle: A surge of misinformation is …


A 2023 Siena College poll showed 77% of New York State residents feel the lack of affordable housing is a major problem. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

New York's affordable housing crisis is being made worse by corporate landlords, according to groups trying to reform the system. The state …

Environment

play sound

With Election Day near, the League of Conservation Voters is pushing for Michigan legislation to protect democracy, air, land and waterways across …

The Wisconsin State Division of Hearings and Appeals has the power to modify permits issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources or require the agency to include stronger terms and conditions. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

Some northeast Wisconsin residents are challenging a wastewater permit issued by the state to a large dairy operation. The Wisconsin Department of …

Environment

play sound

Arizona is ground zero for the 2024 election, but also sits on the front lines of the climate crisis, as the state has seen another year of record-…

Social Issues

play sound

Both major-party presidential candidates have made campaign stops in Nevada before Election Day - and they're after the Latino vote. Latinos make up …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021