skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Sunday, October 6, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The Bureau of Land Management updates a proposed Western Solar Plan to the delight of wildlife advocates, grant funding helps New York schools take part in National Farm to School Month, and children's advocates observe "TEN-4 Day" to raise awareness of child abuse.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Biden voices concerns over Israeli strikes on Iran, Special Counsel Jack Smith details Trump's pre-January 6 pressure on Pence, Indiana's voter registration draws scrutiny, and a poll shows politics too hot to talk about for half of Wisconsinites.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Cheap milk comes at a cost for residents of Washington's Lower Yakima Valley, Indigenous language learning is promoted in Wisconsin as experts warn half the world's languages face extinction, and Montana's public lands are going to the dogs!

NH veterans, service members say proposed voter ID law betrays their sacrifice

play audio
Play

Monday, May 20, 2024   

Veterans and service members in New Hampshire said legislation to create one of the nation's strictest voter ID laws would be a betrayal of their sacrifice.

The bill would require proof of citizenship to register to vote, and would get rid of the affidavit process to help new voters without documentation.

Curtis Register, a member of the Durham Town Council and a former Marine Corps officer, said birth certificates or naturalization papers can be hard to come by for military members, who regularly relocate or were born on bases overseas.

"These are all real obstacles that service members face and that families of service members face because it's a collective unit," Register observed. "One affects all."

Supporters of the bill argued it is needed to prevent widespread voter fraud, but have failed to provide evidence of electoral abuse. The bill has passed the House and Senate but Gov. Chris Sununu has not said whether he will sign it.

There are roughly 70,000 foreign-born American citizens serving in the military, or about 5% of the total active-duty force. More than 170,000 military members have become naturalized citizens since 2002.

Register noted proposed laws in New Hampshire and elsewhere requiring them to provide more documentation to vote than native-born citizens risks disenfranchising those who fight to preserve our most basic rights.

"It feels like a betrayal of those that have been injured, or sacrificed time away from their kids, or even an ultimate sacrifice; that we have folks trying to take away rights that were given via the Constitution," Register emphasized.

New Hampshire allows for same-day voter registration and opponents of the bill said it could prevent thousands of people from casting a ballot.

Others warned such a law would be unconstitutional. A similar bill in Kansas requiring proof of citizenship to vote was struck down by a federal judge in 2018.

Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
To date, the Bureau of Land Management has permitted clean-energy projects on public lands adding 29 gigawatts of electricity, or enough to power more than 12 million homes, according to the agency. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

A new federal proposal details which public lands across the West would be open to solar development. Wildlife advocates are glad to see that some - …


Environment

play sound

October is National Farm to School Month, and New York schools are using grant funding to participate. School districts statewide have received …

Social Issues

play sound

As Florida recovers from Hurricane Helene, the state's network of Community Health Centers continues to provide crucial care statewide. Community …


Helene ranks among the nation's deadliest hurricanes, as the death toll surpasses 200. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

A week after Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc across the Southeast, the North Carolina town of Boone is facing an uphill battle. With many roads still …

Social Issues

play sound

The most recent census figures show a significant drop in poverty in the Richmond metro area - and are being met with skepticism. The American …

Nearly 90% of nonbinary adults in the workforce are younger than age 35 and half are people of color. (Marcos/AdobeStock)

play sound

Experts say a diverse workforce is crucial for creativity and social justice, and equally good for a company's bottom line. But reluctance to hire …

Social Issues

play sound

Medical debt has long been a burden for many Americans, with millions struggling to pay off their healthcare bills. In the Buckeye State, however…

Social Issues

play sound

A screening tool developed by medical providers is an effective way to spot signs of child abuse, and experts are raising awareness about it today…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021