With the primaries over and less than two months until the federal midterm and New Hampshire statewide elections, we should be focused on encouraging every eligible voter to participate. Instead, too much public debate has been consumed by unsupported claims of widespread election. This rhetoric, and the accompanying proposals that make it hard for people to participate, dilute voting as a fundamental civic right and reduce trust among and between Granite Staters.
The evidence does not support claims that widespread fraud is changing the outcomes of U.S. federal or state elections. Election administrators, courts, researchers and post-election audits have repeatedly found that while isolated fraud should be prosecuted, it is rare compared with the hundreds of millions of ballots cast. In New Hampshire, recent court testimony identified only one prosecution in 26 years for knowingly voting as a noncitizen. Security matters, but so does honesty: exaggerating the threat weakens the public trust that makes elections legitimate.
That is why efforts to demand state voter rolls, match private voter information against citizenship lists, suggest law enforcement presence around polling places and/or restricting mail-in ballots are troubling. They risk undermining trust in our institutions and in each other, turning polling places from spaces where we practice one of our more prized rights into places of fear. New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan has been right to defend voter privacy and the integrity of our election system. Democracy does not work on fear or misinformation — it requires that we believe our neighbors are acting in good faith.
Voting is about more than just determining who serves in elected positions. The American Medical Association has recognized voting as a social determinant of health, and social science research has linked civic engagement with social cohesion, trust, resilience and community well-being. Community well-being is strongest when residents help shape the systems they rely on — healthcare, education, transportation, housing, recreation and public safety.
In a representative democracy where people participate — not just voting but also volunteering, attending town meetings and speaking up in public forums — government is more likely to address what people need, whether it is the economy, affordability of groceries or electricity, a secure job or a place to live. That responsiveness then creates a positive feedback loop with people more likely to work together with their neighbors and work with their elected officials to solve additional challenges. These actions are not abstract political debates; they are everyday choices that shape opportunity, quality of life and trust among community members.
New Hampshire has extraordinary strengths: tight-knit towns, a tradition of neighbor-helping-neighbor, and a deep sense of belonging. By engaging residents as partners and problem solvers — not merely patients, voters or customers — we can build systems people trust while preserving the values that make New Hampshire unique.
I have seen this firsthand after more than three decades living in New Hampshire and participating in town meetings. By speaking on warrant articles and voting alongside my neighbors, I have watched residents shape decisions about public safety, recreation, conservation, clean water and development. I have not always been on the winning side, but I have walked away with respect for the people I disagree with, and with a belief that we can find future points of agreement. The process itself reminds me why democracy works: voices are heard, neighbors are accountable to one another and the outcome belongs to the community. We live with our decisions until the next time when we can vote again.
Protecting this sense of trust requires that we reject misinformation and oppose intimidation about how to vote, when to vote and who can vote. We should insist on election rules that are secure, fair and accessible to every eligible voter. Democracy is not protected by making voting harder. It is protected when citizens show up, speak up and defend the right of their neighbors to do the same.
Social cohesion gives democracy its staying power. Stronger ties among neighbors, higher levels of trust and a shared sense of belonging make it easier for communities to work across differences and solve problems together. In this sense, protecting the right to vote is not only about elections; it is about preserving the civic infrastructure that allows people to build a healthier, more resilient future together.
Michael J. Cohen is a principal consultant at MJC Health Solutions, LLC. He previously served as the executive director of the New Hampshire chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. He lives in Amherst.