Lawsuit Challenges NH Student ID Voter Restriction

From court challenges on student IDs to new requirements for absentee ballots, voting in 2026 will bring a number of changes for Granite-staters for students and residents who have moved in-state or between states.

“The laws have changed a lot, so if you voted in 2025 or 2024, this year will be different,” said Olivia Zink, executive director of the Concord-based nonprofit voting rights group the Coalition for Open Democracy told InDepthNH. “They limited the amount of documents that can prove domicile, they’ve added requirements for absentee ballots. If you’re going to vote for the first time, remember ACID: Age, Citizenship, Identity, Domicile.”

On Tuesday, Zink’s group filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court to preserve the use of high school and college-issued IDs for voting purposes. The suit is targeting House Bill (HB) 323, which was signed into law by Gov. Kelly Ayotte in June.