Eric Herr: A call to action around primary reform

To The Daily Sun,

The Constitution opens with “We the People”. Yet, New Hampshire voters enter primary polls and must choose a Republican or Democrat ballot, though more voters are registered independents than either party. Our primaries select party candidates for the General Election, making local governments' political parties agents and taxpayers the funders. Perhaps our motto should read: “Live Free or Die, but only vote Republican or Democrat.”

Party-defined voting blocks and current vote-counting processes ensure that not every vote cast is counted. Write-in votes for candidates on the other party’s ballot are not included in that candidate’s vote tally, depriving both voter and candidate of a fundamental democratic right. It also makes it unlikely that independent candidates ever reach general elections.

In 2024, New Hampshire Together, a not-for-profit dedicated to improving civic engagement, held listening sessions around the state, discovering that political polarization and lack of government responsiveness were shared concerns. A statewide Citizens Assembly of 50 representative volunteers was held to propose solutions. A proposal to establish single-ballot, non-partisan primaries was approved by 85% of those volunteers. New Hampshire Together worked to bring that initiative to life, becoming HB 714. HB 714 addresses both antidemocratic failures noted above and simplifies the primary process. Recently, the House Election Law Committee held hearings on HB 714. The committee voted 11 to 7, labeling the bill “inexpedient to legislate” with all Republicans and one Democrat voting to oppose it. Still, it next goes to the House floor.

At its heart, this debate and legislators’ votes are about whether the foundation of our electoral  process will be parties or the people and whether every vote counts. It is about restoring Abraham Lincoln’s “government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”

Eric Herr

Hill