Opinion: Local Election Officials to Governor Sununu: Act Swiftly to Veto HB 1569

Service—it’s why local election officials and volunteers step up year after year to run our state’s elections. Service to our community, to our voters, and to the bedrock of American democracy: free and fair elections. We take immense pride in the integrity and security of New Hampshire’s election process. However, that call to service is under attack by a radical scheme – HB 1569 – to overhaul our elections. Governor Sununu can and should swiftly resolve this crisis by announcing his pledge to stand with voters and election officials alike with a veto to this bill when it reaches his desk. 

Our current system works, and just about everyone agrees on that. Through our same day registration process, Granite Staters are able to register and vote by providing documentation to prove age, domicile, citizenship, and identity. When individuals lack the necessary documents on Election Day, they can sign an affidavit—a legally binding document with severe penalties for misuse. This safeguard effectively upholds the security of our elections. In spite of this, the proposed changes under HB 1569 would overhaul the election administration process, potentially leading to widespread confusion and dissatisfaction among voters during the crucial 2024 Presidential election cycle — not to mention the potential disenfranchising of untold thousands of voters. HB1569 denies eligible voters the right to register to vote unless they have documents proving identity, age, domicile (address) and citizenship. To prove citizenship, voters would have to provide either a passport, birth certificate, or naturalization papers. This means significant procedural adjustments in clerks’ offices, necessitating extensive new staff and volunteer training. The implementation timeline—effective just 60 days after passage—offers a scant amount of time to develop, learn, and refine these new processes before they’re tested at the polls on election day. 

Training for the upcoming state election on September 10, 2024, should ideally commence by early July. This preparation involves crafting those trainings and procedures to be compliant with state laws, administrative regulations, and guidance from the Secretary of State. The expedited timeline mandated by HB 1569 jeopardizes our ability to ensure a smooth transition and maintain voter confidence. 

Complicating this dangerously short implementation timeline even more, it’s possible that if Governor Sununu does not veto this bill that we could have two different sets of rules between the Primary and General elections. This would cause confusion and frustration and deliver a poor voting experience to Granite Staters. The Governor acknowledged these issues just last week saying that implementing this law will be ”incredibly difficult.” We agree — and it is why we need a promise of a veto from the Governor as soon as possible. 

About 1 in 10 adult citizens say they either do not have or could not quickly find in order to show the next day their U.S. birth certificate, passport, naturalization certificate or certificate of citizenship, according to results released from a national survey earlier this spring. 

As stewards of our state’s elections, we urge Governor Sununu to veto HB 1569. Our experience and expertise in administering elections uniquely positions us to understand the potential far reaching and dangerous ramifications of this bill. By vetoing HB 1569, he can support the tireless efforts of election officials and uphold the rights of Granite Staters. We remain committed to advocating for our communities and ensuring the integrity of our elections. 

Governor Sununu, we count on you to act swiftly and decisively to protect our democracy.