Pass HB 1601 so eligible voters are not turned away
I am writing to encourage Granite Staters to urge the Senate Election Law Committee to pass HB 1601, an important bipartisan bill designed to educate and assist the public in meeting the requirements for voting, so eligible voters are not turned away at the polls. New voter registration and voter eligibility laws have created confusion and uncertainty, resulting in about 300 voters being turned away from the polls since these restrictive laws went into effect.
HB 1601 would require the Secretary of State to expand voter education that includes information on the specific requirements, and documentation needed, to cast their vote in upcoming elections. Naturalized citizens, students, mail-in voters and anyone who has changed their name are at risk of not being able to vote, unless specific guidelines are followed. These voters would need enough time to produce or apply for costly documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, passports or other credentials to verify and confirm their identity, place of birth, residence, citizenship, marital status and age. Certain documents must be original, notarized copies or require examination of the originals by the appropriate government official.
Voting should be accessible to all eligible voters — let’s make sure the opportunity exists for them!