HB418

I believe we should make it easier for our citizens to vote -- from registration to "no excuse" absentee ballots and everything in between!

Clearly, most NH people believe that child care, employment, etc should not be a barrier to exercising their *right* to participatory government. For example, the entire rationale for the so-called SB2 meeting structure, which many towns have adopted, was to make it easier for people to vote, who could not come to a traditional town meeting. And, of course, this being NH I've personally seen 2 major snowstorms wreak havoc on voting. People ought not to need to hitch up the huskies and mush out over the tundra to have their vote counted. This bill should not be passed. Make it *easier* , not harder, for people to vote.

I oppose removing work or care for dependents as a reason to not be able to use absentee voting in NH. We should be expanding the ability for citizens to vote, not limiting it further.

Bill is too restrictive and would deny right to vote to people who find it difficult to get to the polls for health reasons, disability, child care issues, etc.

I am a New Hampshire resident and I believe it is very important that we preserve the rights to absentee voting in cases of religious observance, work, child care, or other care obligations. This bill would make it very difficult for anyone who any obligations that arise unexpectedly to exercise their right to vote. It is also critical that we maintain the ability to vote absentee in the event of a winter storm warning to keep everyone safe.

This will disenfranchise first responders and health care workers who can’t make it to the polls on Election Day. I strongly oppose.

As a parent of young children and a carer of elderly parents, I can’t fathom what reasonable purpose limiting voting for caregivers must present? The only thing I can imagine is that limiting opportunities for those who don’t have the means to leave their caring responsibilities must be intentionally targeting women, whom this measure would have a disproportionate impact upon. So basically it boils down to limiting the votes of women. I oppose these changes.

My opposition to the bill was presented in person by Olivia Zink, with permission of the chair, and appreciation to both acknowledged here.

In a country where we purport to be proponents of the right of free speech and we encourage from elementary school age children to become involved in voting in the governmental process any limitations on the public of eligible age of voting his restriction of our freedoms. Instead of introducing legislator that impedes our ability to vote, we should be doing more absentee. Voting is a small measure. Of ensuring the right of every voting age, american to have a say, in our country's politics, laws, regulations and more. I am in full support of keeping anything. That allows the people of our nation to vote by whatever means, is best for their life circumstances. Maybe I don't.Please continue the right of absentee voting.

Currently, absentee ballot applications must be signed by the voter and anyone who assists them with completing the application. By requiring an additional step of having the application notarized, voters will have a more difficult time completing this form – resulting in their application being rejected, late, or not completed at all. Many seniors and voters with disabilities vote via absentee ballot because they are unable to vote in person on election day. These same voters who may not have transportation or the ability to independently travel are most likely to be affected by needing to find a notary and make a color copy of an ID. Both notarization and color copies have monetary costs – this bill would add those costs and burden to voting absentee. Currently, absentee ballots must have a signed affidavit from the voter and anyone who assisted the voter in completing their ballot. Those are signed under penalty of perjury, and have serious consequences for falsifying. Under this legislation, voters who are casting absentee ballots would have to take an additional step to get those ballots notarized – a process that can cost money and require travel and additional steps. Requiring ballots be notarized or signed by another authorized official will most directly impact voters with disabilities and seniors who may already be voting absentee because they aren’t able to easily travel to vote in person. In this case especially, finding and arranging a notary is a significant burden that may result in voters not being able to exercise their right to vote.

I’m against making it more difficult for the public to be able to participate in elections.

I oppose this bill.

As a nurse-midwife working 12 hour shifts on a rotating basis, this Bill would significantly impact my and my coworkers right to vote. This legislation would amend the reasons voters can cast an absentee ballot to being absent from their town or city where they are domiciled or having a disability. This proposed change would remove religious observance, work, child care, or other care obligations from reasons to vote absentee. This bill would also repeal the ability to vote absentee if there is a winter storm warning for election day. New Hampshire has a limited number of qualifications for voters to cast an absentee ballot – this bill would further narrow which voters are eligible to vote absentee. Under this legislation, voters who have work obligations during voting hours or are responsible for child care would no longer be eligible to vote absentee – likely leading to many of those voters not having the opportunity to exercise their right to vote. Absentee voting is a secure, reliable process that does not benefit one political party over another. Limiting the use of absentee voting by narrowing the criteria will only disenfranchise voters who are unable to make it in person on election day but do not fit into the limited exceptions. Please oppose this Bill and use your position to advocate for those of us caring for the community on the front lines. Thank you

As a parent of a disable teenager removing the language of "employment" would hinder an entire population that take care of children and adults that are cared for at home. This would make their voices unheard. Currently, I vote in person when my son is at school, but as he grows to be an adult or is home and with the employment crisis especially amongst home health aides this would leave me unable to cast a vote.

Stop trying to suppress our votes! We should be given more opportunities, not less!

This bill would limited the rights of US citizens and residents of the State of New Hampshire which is against Constitutional Law. I’m appalled.

I am strongly against this bill. With our aging population, caretakers are unable to get away. Its intent is to limit voters and democracy. It’s a disgrace.

The legislative branch should be making laws that make voting easier, not try to enact laws making it harder to vote and to purposely suppress people’s constitutional right to vote. This bill looks to address a problem that doesn’t exist.

Those who are homebound deserve the ability to exercise their constitutional right to vote. This is a violation of basic rights as citizens!

I firmly oppose this bill and any Bill that hinders my right to vote. As a senior citizen I have used mail in ballots when babysitting grandchildren all day, when I’m out of town that day and when I’m sick or to avoid long waits, standing and exposing myself to viruses as an elderly person with a compromised immune system. The Right to Vote is my Right!!!

Eligibility for absentee voting should be allowed for all registered and eligible voters.

I am concerned that this bill is going to disproportionally burden citizens who have employment that is not flexible. Traditionally, the least flexible jobs are the lower paying service jobs. Are you advocating for all individuals who lose wages to be compensated by the state? Voting is a right and not a privilege for those of us who make enough money or those with salary jobs that provide paid time to vote. Additionally, this bill unjustly targets religious non-Christian religious folks (since most Christian holidays are observed). Thank you for your consideration.

I am writing to oppose HB 418 regarding reducing people’s ability to participate in our elections by voting early. Voting is a right that all 18+ year old citizens of this country have an it should never be limited. In fact, you should be doing all that you can to make it as easy as possible for people to participate in our democratic process. I strongly urge the House members to deny these changes to the current rules. Respectfully Submitted, Glendowlyn Howard , Durham

Pretty unpatriotic to punish folks who want to vote, but are unable to do so in person for reasons like working, childcare, or religious holidays. This punishes folks who are unable to get out of work commitments, despite the fact that working families pay taxes. Not making it easier for hard working Americans like firefighters, police, teachers, etc. to vote is really not something we need to spend our time on. As someone who has had to be a caregiver for a person with dementia, I can tell you that care coverage can be very expensive and hard to find. We should be making it easy for folks to vote who are just trying to hold up their work and family responsibilities. Please don't punish folks for just trying to do their best.

Hello, New Hampshire already has stricter absentee voting laws than other states and doesn't need to narrow them further. Many members of my family rely on absentee ballots. My grandparents have been voting absentee for years because of the difficulty of making the trip to the polls. There also folks like my uncle who are working as caretakers of elderly relatives or who have small children to watch or can't afford to take time off work who would appreciate the ability to vote absentee.