There will be public hearings on several election law bills next week on Tuesday, April, 22nd. They are being heard in the Election Law Committee, some need to be supported and others opposed. The following are three bills to support:
SB 218 removes the requirement that absentee ballots be placed in “outer” envelopes unless such ballots are mailed to town or city clerks. This bill also allows clerks to open outer envelopes allowing applicants time to cure any defects. To register your on line support of this bill, click here and follow the instructions.
SB 103 requires towns and cities to have at least one polling place per every 20,000 registered voters unless the town or city has received approval from the secretary of state for fewer locations. This addresses the issue of long lines on election day(s) that have affected many NH towns. To register your on line support of this bill, click here and follow the instructions.
SB 16 requires municipalities to post a copy of election return forms on their websites and in public locations. This increases local levels of election transparency. To register your on line support of this bill, click here and follow the instructions.
The following are bills to oppose:
SB 213 aims to do two things. It will change the standard for absentee voting to "It is more likely than not" that a voter will be absent. The bill will also require proof of identity, citizenship, age, and domicile when applying for an absentee ballot. This bill places unnecessary and troublesome obstacles to the absentee voting process, which is already the preferred method for many disabled and elderly voters. Why make it harder for these folks to vote? To register your on line opposition of this bill, click here and follow the instructions. To also send a quick email in opposition to Representatives on the committee, click here.
SB 287 requires applicants for absentee ballots to present a copy of their photo identification with their application. Again, who will this hurt the most? Disabled and elderly voters. To register your on line opposition of this bill, click here and follow the instructions. To also send a quick email in opposition to Representatives on the committee, click here.
All of this activism in defense of voting rights and democracy should take no longer than ten minutes! Thank you for participating!
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
— Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate
Don’t be silent! Speak up, speak out!