A New Hampshire grand jury has issued six indictments charging a Massachusetts couple with wrongful voting in three election cycles.
New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella announced on Sept. 26 that Joshua Urovitch, 56, and his wife, Lisa, 54, have been charged with three felony counts of wrongful voting.
The indictments allege that the couple was living in Ashland, Massachusetts, when they voted in Concord, New Hampshire, in the Nov. 3, 2020, and Nov. 8, 2022, general elections and the Nov. 8, 2022, Concord School District Election.
Officials haven’t released information on the couple’s motives or for whom they cast their votes.
Both of the Urovitches are scheduled to be arraigned in the Merrimack County Superior Court on Oct. 7.
Current New Hampshire law allows those who don’t bring a photo ID to sign an affidavit affirming their identity. Voters must then agree to provide documentation within seven days after voting.
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In September, New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu signed House Bill 1569, which requires proof of citizenship when registering to vote and a photo ID when casting a ballot.
It also eliminates voter ID exceptions and increases requirements for documents such as passports and birth certificates to prove U.S. citizenship.
“We have a proud tradition and proven track record of condition elections that are trusted and true,” Sununu said. “Looking forward to the next decade or two, this legislation will instill even more integrity and trust in the voting process.”
House Bill 1569 won’t take effect until after the November election.
Critics said that the new law will disenfranchise voters and undermine trust in the election process.
“While this law would not be in effect for the coming election, any change in the law this close to a major election risks confusing all voters,” Lauren Kunis, director of the advocacy group Vote Riders, said.
“We know that voter ID initiatives like HB1569 aren’t about security at the ballot box; they’re about blocking voters from accessing it.”
Republicans, however, have said that with the influx of illegal immigrants, the risks of noncitizen voting are much higher, making the need for stricter ID laws greater.
The House of Representatives recently passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, introduced by Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas).
The legislation would amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.
“American elections are for American citizens, and we intend to keep it that way,” Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.), chairman of the House Administration Committee, which held a hearing on the act, said.
