Diane Goodman

HB289 would prevent voters from claiming their domicile in New Hampshire if they are a dependent of someone who is a resident of another state. It is a voter suppression bill targeting college students. It is targeted towards limiting student voting in New Hampshire to only those who meet the new domicile definition and have residency as defined by the University System of New Hampshire. Domicile simply means where you live and participate in civic life – this bill would add another unrelated qualification that is based on where other family members live, not the voter themselves. A voter who meets the qualifications and is domiciled in New Hampshire has the right to vote here. Adding additional requirements related to residency as defined by the University System would take away the right to vote for qualified New Hampshire voters. There is no method for identifying if a person is a dependent of someone else for tax purposes when they register to vote, and the bill is unclear about who may fall under this category.