The Federal Department of Justice has “bailed out” New Hampshire from the preclearance requirements of the Voting Right Acts, meaning that state officials no longer have to notify the DOJ about any changes to election laws in ten New Hampshire towns. The Concord Monitor’s Ben Leubsdorf reports on the decision.

FOR THE MONITOR

“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.” – Mark Antony, “Julius Caesar.”

“The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.” – Dick the Butcher, “Henry VI, Part II”

Forgive me if the latest legal tussle over the Voting Rights Act reminds me of Shakespeare. I can’t decide if it’s tragedy or farce.

Grant Bosse and Paul Westcott discuss the ongoing legal challenges to a small piece of the Voting Rights Act, and how New Hampshire got caught in the middle. Tune into NH Watchdog on WGIR every Friday morning at 7:20am on AM610 WGIR and 96.7 The Wave, through the I Heart Radio ap, or online at WGIRam.com.

(CONCORD, NH) U.S Attorney General Eric Holder could be the last hurdle between New Hampshire and its new Voter ID law. Granite State lawmakers may have overcome the objection of Governor John Lynch to the state’s new Voter ID law, but they may still have to get Holder’s permission. Under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Department of Justice must “pre-clear” any changes in election laws affecting ten New Hampshire communities with the U.S. Department of Justice.

Ted Siefer reports in the Union Leader that the U.S. Department of Justice has pre-cleared New Hampshire’s new political boundaries ahead of this week’s filing period for the 2012 elections.

The Concord Monitor’s Molly A.K. Connors reports on the implications of the Voting Rights Act’s pre-clearance requirements on changing to New Hampshire’s election laws.