Current:Home > FinanceJudge dismisses challenge to New Hampshire’s provisional voting law-LoTradeCoin
Judge dismisses challenge to New Hampshire’s provisional voting law
View Date:2024-12-23 19:38:32
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A judge has dismissed a pair of lawsuits challenging New Hampshire’s new provisional ballot law.
The law, which took effect in January, created a new type of “affidavit ballot” for first-time voters who don’t show proper identification and proof of residency at the polls. Those who fail to provide the documents within seven days will have their ballots thrown out, and the vote totals would be adjusted.
Previously, such voters filled out affidavits promising to provide documentation within 10 days, and those who didn’t could be investigated and charged with fraud. But the votes themselves remained valid.
Several individual voter and advocacy groups filed lawsuits last year, days after Republican Gov. Chris Sununu signed the bill into law. They argued that it violates the right to privacy the state added to its constitution in 2018 because it would diminish the secrecy of ballots and tie voters’ names to the candidates for whom they voted. But a judge recently granted a request from the secretary of state and attorney general to dismiss the cases.
In an order made public Friday, Merrimack County Judge Charles Temple agreed with the defendants that the plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge the law.
The individual plaintiffs already are registered to vote and thus can’t argue the changes will harm them, he said. And they don’t have standing as taxpayers objecting to the expenditure of public funds, he said, because the law doesn’t appropriate money.
The advocacy groups, 603 Forward and Open Democracy Action, argued they had standing because the new law would force them to divert resources to combat the law’s burdensome effects. The judge rejected that claim, saying the groups had no constitutionally protected rights at stake.
While provisional ballots are required by federal law, New Hampshire is exempt because it offered same-day voter registration at the time the National Voter Registration Act was enacted in 1993.
veryGood! (77)
Related
- Here's Your First Look at The White Lotus Season 3 With Blackpink’s Lisa and More Stars
- Delegation from Yemen’s Houthi rebels flies into Saudi Arabia for peace talks with kingdom
- GOP senators who boycotted Oregon Legislature file for reelection despite being disqualified
- Ukrainian forces reclaim a village in the east as part of counteroffensive
- In bizarro world, Tennessee plays better defense, and Georgia's Kirby Smart comes unglued
- Can Atlanta voters stop 'Cop City'? Why a vote could be 'transformative' for democracy
- Brazil’s Supreme Court sentences rioter who stormed capital in January to 17 years in prison
- Missing plane found in southern Michigan with pilot dead at crash site
- Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger welcome their first son together
- He couldn’t see his wedding. But this war-blinded Ukrainian soldier cried with joy at new love
Ranking
- Ashton Jeanty stats: How many rushing yards did Boise State Heisman hopeful have vs Nevada
- Father of 10-year-old UK girl Sara Sharif among 3 charged with her murder after Pakistan arrest
- EU faces deadline on extending Ukrainian grain ban as countries threaten to pass their own
- On 60th anniversary of church bombing, victim’s sister, suspect’s daughter urge people to stop hate
- NFL coaches diversity report 2024: Gains at head coach, setbacks at offensive coordinator
- Aaron Rodgers speaks out for first time since his season-ending injury: I shall rise yet again
- NFL Week 2 picks: With Aaron Rodgers gone, can Jets get past Cowboys for 2-0 start?
- Trial begins in Elijah McClain death, which sparked outrage over racial injustice in policing
Recommendation
-
NBC's hospital sitcom 'St. Denis Medical' might heal you with laughter: Review
-
After attacks, British prime minister says American XL Bully dogs are dangerous and will be banned
-
Providence's hurricane barrier is ready for Hurricane Lee. Here's how it will work.
-
China promotes economic ‘integration’ with Taiwan while militarily threatening the island
-
Where you retire could affect your tax bill. Here's how.
-
Timeline: Hunter Biden under legal, political scrutiny
-
Enough to make your skin crawl: 20 rattlesnakes found inside a homeowner’s garage in Arizona
-
Shania Twain Shares How Menopause Helped Her Love Her Body