Letter: New Hampshire does not support school vouchers, but we are getting them anyway.

When will our Legislature stop ignoring its constituents?

Judging by people who signed in to express their opinions on SB295 and HB115, the people of New Hampshire do not support universal school vouchers, yet the Legislature is poised to vote them into existence. 96% of people signing in on SB295 when it came before the House committee opposed expanding vouchers. 81% of people signing in on HB115 were opposed.

These numbers have been consistent, going back to 2021 when the Education Committee voted to table vouchers for low-income families, but they were snuck into the budget anyway. In 2021, sign-ins to the committee showed 84% opposed vouchers. During the last legislative session, when eligibility was expanded, sign-ins to the committee showed 82% opposed to expansion. These numbers are borne out by a public opinion survey conducted in January by RABA Research. In that survey, 78% of New Hampshire voters opposed using public money to support private school vouchers.

As a relative newcomer to New Hampshire, having lived here only since 2018, I am mystified by this phenomenon. Why does the Legislature ignore the will of the people, and why do the people let them get away with it?

Mary Lincoln

Londonderry