Politics and views in the United States

NH voting rights advocates decry a ban on student IDs at the polls, as Congress continues debating the SAVE America Act. The far-right is routed to Hungary and VA felons may have their voting rights restored if an amendment passes.

Transcript

Welcome to 2026 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

The Trump administration has openly stated a desire to ensure that only, quote, the right people are voting.

And laws like this one are how that goal is pursued at the state level.

Lisa Kovach of the New Hampshire Campaign for Voting Rights slams a state ban on using student IDs at the polls.

Under the new state law, the eighth in the country, college students will have to show a separate government-issued photo ID. despite needing a passport or driver's license to get student identification.

GOP lawmakers argued students could use fake IDs.

Opponents said there is no proof that ever happens, and called the law a bid to suppress rising youth turnout ahead of the midterms.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his far-right populist party were routed in an election yesterday, despite President Donald Trump promising to tilt trade and economic policy towards him.

In more than a decade and a half in power, the anti-EU pro-Putin Orban extensively changed Hungary's politics and electoral system to fortify his power.

Voters objected to current corruption in spite of a last-minute campaign rally with Vice President J.D. Vance, who called Orban a defender of Western civilization.

Understand that Western civilization, so despised by the left, it's not something that's self-sustaining.

We can't sit on our hands and expect that everything is going to be fine.

Our civilization, we've got to work at it.

Voting rights activists say they're watching as Congress resumes debate on the Save America Act, a major Trump priority.

The strict national voter ID bill has already passed the House with support from four Democrats, but Senate Democrats have so far successfully stalled it there.

Joyce LeBombard with the Texas League of Women Voters says it'll disenfranchise married women who took their husband's last name.

Their ID, their passport, their voter ID will not match their birth certificate.

So all of those women now have to jump through that extra hoop.

Trump allies argue it's needed to stop non-citizen voting.

Opponents point out that almost never happens.

They point out it makes registration drives harder and voter roll purges more common, denying the ballot more often to rural and disengaged voters and those without stable housing.

Kansas Republican lawmakers just overrode Democratic Governor Laura Kelly's veto of legislation that mirrors the federal bill.

Virginia is the only state requiring a person with a felony record to individually petition the governor to restore their voting rights.

That might change in November when voters decide on a constitutional amendment that would automatically restore those voting rights once people are released from prison.

Nicole Porter, with the Sentencing Project, calls the ballot a fundamental democratic right for folks who want to take part in civic life.

These are individuals that don't lose their right to citizenship, and them being able to vote and participate in democracy, making choices about who governs them, is important.

Four million people with felony convictions were barred from voting in the last presidential election.

I'm Zamone Perez for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

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