MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) - Former Attorney General Eric Holder is clarifying his comments about college students who vote in New Hampshire.
The state Supreme Court is deciding whether to weigh in on a bill to end New Hampshire’s distinction between residency and being domiciled in the state for voting purposes. Current law allows college students to vote in New Hampshire without being subject to residency requirements such as getting a New Hampshire drivers license.
Holder said Friday out-of-state college students should be allowed to vote in New Hampshire but also should get licenses and register their cars, putting him at odds with fellow Democrats. “If you are a New Hampshire resident you have to do a variety of things, and if you’re a college student and a resident, you should have to do the same things,” Holder said.
He told The Associated Press on Saturday he supports the voting rights of domiciled students if they comply with existing law. He opposes making it harder for them to vote.
“My comments were intended to support the right of domiciled students to vote in the state of New Hampshire as long as they comply with existing law,” Holder said. “In no way should they be viewed as supporting any proposal that would make it harder for students to exercise their right to join in the Granite State’s electoral process.”
Republicans argue the proposed bill clears up confusion and is necessary to ensure fairness, while Democrats argue it amounts to a poll tax and would deter students from voting.
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