New Hampshire Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen is leading an effort to undo a new law which would prevent college students from voting in the state unless they are permanent residents.

Democrats obviously believe reversing this law would benefit them in the Granite State. Otherwise they wouldn’t be doing this.

Note how the headline of this story at The Hill by Jordain Carney calls the New Hampshire law “controversial.”

2020 Dems back repeal of controversial New Hampshire voting law Democratic presidential hopefuls are lining up behind a push by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) to oppose a New Hampshire law that would require college students be permanent residents to vote. Shaheen sent a letter on Monday asking 2020 Democratic White House hopefuls to sign a petition opposing the law, which will go into effect in July. It requires out-of-state residents like college students to pay to obtain a state driver’s license and register their cars within 60 days of casting a ballot. Several 2020 candidates quickly backed Shaheen’s effort to build opposition to the state law, which is being challenged in court, arguing it limits who can participate in the crucial early primary that will help shape the crowded Democratic field.

Many of the Democrats running in 2020 have jumped on this effort:

The New Hampshire voter suppression law is intended to disenfranchise college students from exercising their right to vote. I have signed @jeanneshaheen’s petition to oppose this law to send a clear message to students — your vote matters and must be protected. — Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) April 22, 2019

Students are the ones who will have to deal with the decisions lawmakers make for decades to come—protecting their right to vote is paramount. Thank you, @JeanneShaheen, for leading the fight in New Hampshire to protect student voters. I’m proud to support this fight. https://t.co/5TEdIGOZPo — Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) April 22, 2019

Our democracy is strongest when voters have the freedom to head to the ballot box to make their voice heard. The efforts of @GovChrisSununu to restrict this right for tens of thousands of students is unconscionable. I strongly support efforts to amend and repeal this bill. https://t.co/STta0KDzPa — Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) April 22, 2019

This law is wrong—plain and simple. We need a constitutional amendment that protects every American citizen’s right to vote and get that vote counted. Thank you, @JeanneShaheen for leading the fight. https://t.co/My1srb1DrY — Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) April 22, 2019

CNN has more on how the law works:

Currently, New Hampshire does not require registered voters to prove residency — only to prove “domicile.” But the new state law, House Bill 1264, which goes into effect in July, puts the same legal requirements for residents onto “domicile” persons. Those from out-of-state living in New Hampshire, like college students, will have to pay fees to obtain a New Hampshire driver’s license and register their vehicles within 60 days of established residency, or after casting a ballot. The Granite State also allows same-day voter registration. In her letter, which CNN obtained ahead of its publication, Shaheen argues that the law effectively creates a “poll tax” for college students. “They are being disenfranchised by photo ID requirements, arbitrary challenges to residency, and unfounded allegations of fraud,” Shaheen writes.

This isn’t about standing up for the rights of college students. It’s about maximizing votes for Democrats.

Wouldn’t you respect them more if they just came out and admitted that?



