Big Turnout In Durham, UNH Students Say They Were Prepared With Correct IDs

Young people registering to vote in Durham, home of the University of New Hampshire. KATHARINE WEBSTER photo

By KATHARINE WEBSTER, InDepthNH.org

DURHAM – Two young women who are juniors at the University of New Hampshire – Alaina Webster and Lily Woods – said they were ready to rock the vote Tuesday because they knew their student IDs wouldn’t be allowed as a form of identification and made sure they brought the right ones.

A change in the law prohibiting student IDs in New Hampshire voting, then some confusion over a published guidance and a court order – didn’t keep them away. A line to obtain a ballot at the polling place – Oyster River High School – stretched out the door on Tuesday morning. https://indepthnh.org/2026/10/23/scanlan-whats-needed-to-vote-in-nh-since-student-ids-banned-by-u-s-supreme-court/

They said the New Hampshire Youth Movement did a great job letting students know the requirements to register and vote.

Woods said she and her friends received Youth Movement text messages every day; they had a presence on campus, and with posters all around, it was clear student IDs were not allowed and what students would need to bring to register and vote.

She said some classes went on as scheduled, some faculty cancelled class and others made them optional. Still many more students were expected to vote with the appropriate identification in the afternoon and after classes.

When asked what brought her out to vote, Webster said there are a lot of issues facing students, including “wanting to be able to afford to come here.”

She said funding is getting pushed down for public schools and public universities.

Woods said: “With the new rules about student IDs it felt really silencing…so wanting to push back on that. They can try to silence us but we’re going to show up and vote.”

UNH juniors Alaina Webster and Lily Woods praised the New Hampshire Youth Movement for preparing students with what they needed to register and vote. KATHARINE WEBSTER photo

Supervisor of the checklist Christian Kuhn said turnout was about average so far late Tuesday morning.

The same-day registration room had between between 15 and 20 people ready to register first-time Durham voters.

Kuhn said someone from the Attorney General’s Office was there as usual for bigger elections.

“I think there’s been lot of public outreach to students about what documents they have to bring to register. That’s been very helpful,” Kuhn said.

UNH provided shuttle buses between campus and Durham’s only polling place. KATHARINE WEBSTER photo

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