New Hampshire relies on voters' trustworthiness
From Ballotpedia
October 27, 2008
On election day, New Hampshire Secretary of State William Gardner estimates there will be about 100,000 people registering to vote. Gardner has previously cited the state's same-day registration law as keeping them out of the voter fraud debacle. However, officials have acknowledged that the system does rely on voters' trustworthiness, respect for the law and vigilant local election officials.[1]
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"Reasonably focused"
Deputy Attorney General Orville "Bud" Fitch referred to the process as "a very reasonably focused system," crediting local officials, "in New Hampshire, the election officials are people who run for election themselves and are chosen by local voters to be moderators or supervisors of the checklist. They understand the nature of our election process and have a love for democracy."
Fitch also believes the system is more sound than other states because it does not follow the federal "motor voter law." The law, he said, "forces voter registration by mail and allows advocacy groups with a partisan incentive and in some cases an economic incentive to create registrations. Here there are very limited circumstances where people do not register in person."[1]
Registering at the polls
People registering to vote at a polling place are first asked for photo ID to prove their identity. If that is confirmed they are then asked for proof of domicile, something that links your name and address. According to Bedford Town Clerk Lori Radke, even if they cannot produce this documentation, "we cannot turn them away by law. By law we have to accept the fact that they are coming in to register."[1]
No documentation?
Without proof of residency, a potential voter must fill out a Domicile Affidavit or a Citizenship Affidavit, which must be notarized. The Affidavit lists the voters name, address, date when the domicile was established and address of most recent domicile.
They must then sign a statement that the information is accurate and correct, if not they can face a year imprisonment and $2,000 fine. Following that process, Gerry Van Grevenhof, Londonderry's supervisor of the voter checklist, says, "We would then ask them to raise their right hand and say out loud to us that they are swearing that the information they are giving is correct." Finally, the name is entered into the checklist and the voter receives a ballot.
No ID?
Anyone who comes to register but cannot produce a Photo ID have their name entered into the rolls and are allowed to vote. After the election, these voters receive a letter from the Secretary of State's office. The letter thanks them for voting and informs them that if they received the letter but did not vote, to contact the Secretary of State immediately. Any mail than comes back undeliverable is given to the Attorney General's office, who attempts to find the person.
Election officials have been assured any incidents will be investigated. A report from the Attorney General stated that in the 2006 election, of the 25,796 registering at the polls that day, 102 did not have photo ID. Letters were sent to all of them, with three people ultimately being investigated. All three were found to be legally registered.[1]
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