Did you know New Hampshire is a Jim Crow state?
I live in New Hampshire, and according to Chuck Schumer, Maggie Hassan, Chris Pappas and the rest of the congressional delegation we are now part of “Jim Crow 2.0” because we require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote. That comparison is not just wrong — it trivializes real historical injustice.
Our 2024 law asks first‑time registrants to show a passport, birth certificate or naturalization papers. These are documents citizens routinely use for school, employment, Social Security and a driver’s license. There are no poll taxes, literacy tests or intimidation — just a basic verification step.
No civil rights groups are marching in Concord to protest this law. No one claims it’s an undue burden. And New Hampshire is hardly alone: Wyoming requires proof, Georgia and Mississippi require it when citizenship can’t be verified and Ohio requires it for DMV registrations.
Calling this “Jim Crow” cheapens the meaning of that history. Ensuring that only citizens vote is not suppression — it’s a reasonable safeguard in a functioning democracy.