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Here are the facts: you do not need a photo ID to get an absentee ballot, a ballot on Election Day or, even to register to vote (see below). If you are a Republican, you can vote in the Republican Primary Election on January 10.  If you are a Democrat, you can vote in the Democratic Primary Election on January 10. If you are undeclared (independent), you may choose to vote in either Primary Election and then, usually, change your registration back to undeclared before you leave the polls.

In New Hampshire you may register to vote at the Town Clerk's Office or with the Supervisors of the Checklist up to 10 days before the Election, or at the polling place on Election Day.  You should bring the best identification information you have but, if you don't own a driver's license, passport or other photo ID, you can request a waiver (“affidavit”) to sign for your identification and for your address.

You may vote with an absentee ballot up to the day before an election. No Town or City Clerk should ask you for a photo ID before giving you an absentee ballot. If you're asked for a photo ID, refuse the request, and tell the clerk to check your registration signature if he or she questions your identity. The law clearly states they are supposed to check your signature when they receive your absentee ballot.

There is no requirement to show a photo ID to register to vote or before receiving a ballot. As long as you are at least 18 years old and a citizen who lives in the voting district, you have the right to vote under the U.S. and N.H. Constitutions. There are 30,000 to 50,000 voting age citizens in New Hampshire -- mostly the elderly and young people -- who do not possess a N.H. driver's license or other government ID. They deserve to have their votes count.

For a fuller explanation of voters’ rights, you can check the League of Women Voters of New Hampshire website.

“This is suppression of workers’ speech,” said Rep. Win Moses, D-Fort Wayne. “It’s a deliberate attempt to hide what they want to do, which is to destroy unions and reduce wages for working people. It’s arrogance – it’s almost beyond belief.”

On top of those limitations, special groups are being allowed access to the Statehouse through e-mailed waivers, further limiting the amount of people allowed to have their voices heard while speaking up against the right-to-work legislation. A prayer group was granted special access to the Statehouse through an e-mail that instructs members of the group to avoid the crowds of protesters by coming in through a side entrance and showing security guards a print-out of the email. By actions such as this, the state now can pick and choose who to allow into a building that is supposed to be for the citizens of Indiana.

**UPDATE** On Wednesday, Governor Mitch Daniels rescinded the crowd limit for the Statehouse that critics say was aimed at protesters. Daniels said "Democrats and media coverage of the change influenced the decision to change the policy back." The Governor also said he is dedicated to keeping the crowd at safe levels, but is not looking to limit public access.

Republicans made a late push to pass voucher legislation before the end of 2011, but were unable to garner the needed support from either side of the aisle:

"On Wednesday night, the House, following a lengthy debate, voted 105-90 to reject a scaled-back education-reform plan that would expand the state's Education Improvement Tax Credit program and overhaul the state's charter school law.

House Republican leaders tried to keep their word on vouchers in the afternoon during an angst-filled caucus discussion. They offered several iterations of voucher plans of a smaller scale than the one that the Senate passed this fall.

"The votes are not there on either side of the aisle," said Steve Miskin, news secretary to House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny County, as he announced that the House leaders would shift their focus to the more limited school-reform package.

Members said opposition to even a limited pilot program - which would still be a major shift in public education - came from those opposed to diverting public dollars to private schools.

Others felt they did not want to talk about vouchers in an environment in which state aid to public schools is declining. Still others more clearly didn't want to risk the wrath of public school teachers - and their unions - and the parents of children in their hometown schools."

"We have a history of challenging these matters in court if need be. We'll be more than prepared to continue that into the future," said Will Crossley, the Democratic National Committee's counsel and director of voter protection.

Kansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin have all passed laws this year that allow voters without ID to cast provisional ballots, but the voters must return to a specific location with their ID within a certain time limit or their ballot will be discarded. Early voting restrictions have been approved in Florida, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Voters have had some success in overturning the new voter laws. In Maine, voters repealed a new state law that required voters to register at least two days before an election. In Ohio, activists have gathered enough signatures to force a referendum on a law reducing the number of days of early voting. The law will not take effect until after residents vote in the referendum next year.