Linda Terwilliger: Protect residents' right to vote in New Hampshire

To The Daily Sun,

Here, in our country, every citizen has the right to vote in free elections. Our New Hampshire Constitution guarantees it for eligible New Hampshire voters. Yet, our state senate will soon vote on House Bill 1569, which could bar thousands of eligible New Hampshire voters from voting.

If this bill is enacted, New Hampshire’s registration system will be the most restrictive in the country. Any qualified voter could be denied the right to register and vote. Any new or registered voter who needs to update their address or has been removed from the voter rolls by mistake will be denied the right to vote, if they don’t have certain documents in hand.

Contact your New Hampshire senator right away to express your opposition to HB 1569, which would eliminate the use of the voter affidavit as proof of identification when registering to vote and/or requesting a ballot.

The state’s existing voter ID law includes an affidavit process. A sworn affidavit is a powerful legal document with serious consequences that has shown to be safe and secure time and again. It’s the only fail-safe way Granite Staters have to ensure their right to vote.

Currently when registering to vote, eligible voters are asked for proof of identity, age, domicile and citizenship. Registered voters are required to show a photo ID before getting a ballot. If an eligible or registered voter doesn’t have those documents in hand, they can have their photo taken and sign an affidavit to vote.

Our Secretary of State says our elections are safe, secure, and free of widespread voter fraud. Instead of building unnecessary barriers to voting, we should be doing everything we can to get as many qualified voters as possible to the polls on election day.

Linda Terwilliger

Gilford