When registering to vote, people are asked for proof of identity, age, domicile, and citizenship; if lacking required proof, they are afforded the opportunity to sign a binding affidavit, having significant penalties if abused, then register and cast a ballot. This process safeguards our elections and ensures no legitimate voter is turned away. Gov. Sununu states the system works, has integrity, and represents the gold standard for voting; reinforced by Secretary of State Scanlan, caretaker of our elections, stating “There’s no evidence that I’ve seen of any organized, widespread voter fraud taking place in New Hampshire.”
Furthermore, UNH polling indicates 92% of voters had confidence in Election 2022 outcomes. Current law protects voters who arrive at the polling place, as they have done routinely, but discover their name has been purged from the voter rolls, or whose qualifying documents are in transition, inaccessible, or were destroyed by fire or flood, or simply forgotten. However, the NH legislature is considering HB 1569, which eliminates, in sweeping fashion, certain currently available affidavits as options for voting, and ignores our history of secure and accurate elections. Amendments cannot cure. Since June 2, 1784, our Constitution has been amended by a super majority will of the people to expand voting rights. With SCOTUS rolling back established rights, including voting protections, and warning of general roll backs of more rights, it is imperative our legislature not follow suit by rolling back existing options for voting.
Bob Perry
Strafford