Imagine you’ve done your civic duty, exercising your right to vote in a free and fair election, only to hear later from the Secretary of State’s Office. You have now been selected in a “random audit of your citizenship status” by the SoS and need to provide PROOF of your citizenship! Have you voted in your city or town for years or even decades? Doesn’t matter now, as the fear-mongers in the legislature are still banging the voter fraud drum!
As an aside, since 2016 there have been fifteen voter fraud convictions in New Hampshire. These convictions consisted of out-of-state people voting in NH, people with a home in NH and another state but voted in both states and people voting in two different NH towns.
HB 1062 is being brought to us by the worst voter fraud fear-monger in the legislature, Liberty Alliance member Rep. Bob Lynn. On Tues., Feb. 3rd, the House Election Law Committee will be holding a public hearing at 1:40pm on this latest form of proposed voter suppression. You know where I’m going with this:
Click The New Hampshire House of Representatives, fill in your name, etc., Feb. 3rd, Election Law Committee, HB 1062, oppose and then submit. As of this writing, there are 91 who are opposed. Let’s bring that number up.
Another one is HB 1520, which will “define both New Hampshire and United States citizenship for the purposes of voting. This bill also requires the secretary of state to distribute New Hampshire citizenship cards to native citizens and those persons from other states who take an oath of allegiance to the state of New Hampshire.”
This one will cost the state money to implement as it would have to “launch a statewide education campaign to inform registered voters about changes to definitions of New Hampshire and United States citizenship for the purposing of voting. This campaign typically involves educating through printing, social media, television media, election official training, forms changes, guidance changes, statewide voter registration changes, et cetera. Consequently, educating voters about the significant changes to definitions of New Hampshire and United States citizenship for the purposes of voting cost over $2,500,000.”
I have asked this question before, where are they going to scrounge up the money? GoFundMe? Higher property taxes? Repealing more community minded services? Voting in a terrible budget? As of this writing there are 2,432 online oppositions with only 18 in support. This bill will be coming up for a vote in the House soon and you can let your representative know where you stand on this. (Scroll down to “Who’s my Legislator?” to find yours.)
What to say:
~There is no such thing as “NH citizenship.” There is US citizenship and if you meet the legal requirements and are domiciled here, you have the right to vote here.
~HB 1520 is a power grab. It attempts to rewrite who belongs in our democracy by inventing new rules that don’t exist anywhere else.
~This bill creates chaos, confusion, and legal uncertainty, for a problem that doesn’t exist.
~It violates the basic NH value of Live Free or Die by letting elected officials decide whose voice counts.
Who this hurts:
~Students and young voters
~New residents who live and work in NH
~Election officials forced to interpret vague, extreme standards
Who this helps:
~Politicians trying to pick and choose voters
~Efforts to shrink the electorate through confusion
Taking a few moments to voice your opinion about proposed legislation that could hurt you, a family member or a neighbor or friend is worth the time. Take for instance, HB 1703, a bill looking to slap a fee on bicycles by requiring registration. There were 14,113 people who vehemently opposed to such nonsense that the Transportation Committee is going to recommend that the bill be “Inexpedient to Legislate.” In other words, they will recommend to the House to vote to “kill the bill.” Your voice and opinion matters. Use it.
“The one thing the government fears is the day we stand together.”