**ICYMI**

Concord Monitor: Jason Kander: Sununu must be held accountable for voter-suppression bill

By Jason Kander

Republican lawmakers in Concord spent a lot of time and energy this spring pushing legislation to disenfranchise New Hampshire college students.

Earlier this month, Gov. Chris Sununu rewarded them by signing House Bill 1264 into law.

Let’s be clear on what just happened: Republicans have written a poll tax into New Hampshire state law, creating costly, onerous and totally unnecessary barriers for otherwise eligible voters to cast ballots in the place where they live.

Republicans didn’t do this because it’s good public policy, or because it addresses a pressing problem in the state. Gov. Sununu and the GOP Legislature did it for pure partisan political gain.

HB 1264 requires new costs and bureaucratic hurdles that only serve to disenfranchise students (and other newcomers) who live, learn and work in New Hampshire. They add another layer of hassle to a system that already goes beyond what’s required under state and federal laws. They do nothing but require students to spend money to exercise a fundamental right.

That’s no way to welcome young people to the Granite State. These are students who represent the next generation of teachers, nurses and small-business owners in your state. They reside in the state and live there the vast majority of the year. Their voice deserves to be heard.

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