Tag Archives: Voter ID

Voter ID: Yes It Is Unreasonable To Require ID To Vote

  By Matt Murray | May 3, 2013 - 1:01 pm | ,
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get out and vote

Today the Nashua Telegraph posted a letter to the editor entitled “It’s not unreasonable to require ID to vote“.  This letter is obviously pushing for an ID to vote.   The writer, W. B. Heffernan Jr. of Nashua, talks about how many people have ID’s to have their taxes done.

“My job is processing taxpayers seeking to get their tax returns prepared at no charge, and that job includes determining that they have valid photo IDs.

The program is open to all, but caters to seniors and low-income taxpayers. The latter category includes “minorities.” These people, who the “anti-voter ID crowd” claims will not be able to vote because they won’t have a valid photo ID, have no problem in presenting one to obtain free tax preparation.”

I find a few thing wrong with this. First you cannot say that the people who are using your program accurately represent the state of New Hampshire.  The state of New Hampshire is a relatively small state but W.B Heffernan could not possibly know all of the people in New Hampshire.  Talking to a few dozen or even a few hundred people at the Nashua Public Library does not represent all of New Hampshire.

In northern areas of New Hampshire it could be a 30-45 minutes to the nearest DMV office.  For a senior who does not drive, this is a waste of time and money.

My other problem with this is that at no point does W.B. Heffernan say what is a valid ID.  Right now the Voter ID law is scheduled to change.  Durning the 2012 elections the Voter ID law required an ID to vote or a signed affidavit saying that you are who who you say you are.   This generated over 20,000 signed affidavits from people in New Hampshire that did not have an ID and wanted to vote.  Those 20,000 are the ones who continued to vote without an ID.  There is no way of knowing how many people who do not have an ID did not even try to vote.

Under the current State Senate I highly doubt that the Voter ID will be fully repealed.  What we can do is stop the further implementation of the second phase of the law.   Phase two requires polling stations to take the picture of a person who do not have an ID.  This is very costly and does nothing.  Are they going to post the picture on Facebook asking ‘do you know this person?’   If they move forward with phase two it will cost the state thousands of dollars every year to buy digital camera for every polling station and the training associated with it.

The second major issue with phase two is what is considered a valid form of identification.  In 2012 there were many acceptable forms of identification including personal recognition and college IDs.  So for those who do not have an ID but have voted in the same place for years the moderator can vouch for them with personal recognition.  Not is phase two, it is unacceptable along with college IDs and municipal IDs.

If we cannot overturn the Voter ID law then we must fight to stop phase two of the Voter ID law as it is written.  It will do more to disenfranchise voters than actually stop the fictional voter fraud problem in New Hampshire.  Not to mention it will cost the state more money, which is a serious problem in itself.  Would you rather see more money cut from our community colleges to buy cameras for every polling station in New Hampshire to be used once or twice a year?  I do not.

Voting Rights Groups Support Repeal Of Voter ID Law

  By Matt Murray | February 6, 2013 - 11:54 am | ,
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vote

Voting rights groups including the League of Women Voters NH and America Votes spoke in support of HB 287, AN ACT eliminating voter identification requirements during a hearing at the House Election Law Committee yestreday

“The League of Women Voters strongly opposed adoption of the photo ID law and we oppose it, if possible, even more now that it’s been in effect for the primary elections and the Presidential election last November,” said Joan Flood Ashwell, Election Law Specialist for the League of Women Voters NH. “She added, ” The League of Women Voters urges the Legislature to repeal the photo ID law in its entirety. The law serves no legitimate purpose and it poses a real danger to the ability of citizens to exercise their most fundamental right – the right to vote.”

Jessica Clark, Political and Field Director for America Votes, said, ” Implementation and real cost of voter ID in 2012 was in reality much more than originally described. We do not know all of the additional costs and whether they came out of the general fund or the HAVA fund but we do know that during the 2013 organizational meeting of this committee Deputy Scanlan reported that 3500 staff hours were dedicated to implementation of voter ID.  That’s the equivalent of hiring two fulltime staff. The department also mailed 22,000 letters. We have yet to enter the phase of investigations but attorney staff time will be utilized further increasing the cost.”

Ron Geoffroy from the NH Alliance for Retired Americans was quoted in the NH Union Leader.

“Ron Geoffroy, senior executive vice president of the alliance, told the committee the repeal “would right a terrible wrong when it comes to New Hampshire seniors.”

He noted many elderly people give up their driver’s licenses and now have to find someone to drive them to the Division of Motor Vehicles to have a photo ID taken in order to vote.”  (Supporters, opponents voter ID repeal speak out at hearing)

From Kevin Landrigan at the Nashua Telegraph:

“Devon Chaffee executive director of the New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union, said some potential voters, particularly those who are elderly, the disabled or low-income citizens were still intimidated from voting.  “We don’t know how many voters may have stayed home or be chilled from the requirements,” Chaffee said. “What we do know is there was real confusion over the law.”

The truth is that Voter ID Laws are designed to make it hard for people to vote, and discourage voters from voting if they do no have a drivers license.   The Voter ID law has not really taken effect yet because during the last election you could not be turned away if you do not have a valid ID.  Even though there were reports that people were being told they needed an ID to vote.

There is no proof of Voter Fraud in NH.  The video that the NH GOP keeps referring to that proves we need Voter ID is actually a video of someone breaking the law and filming themselves doing it.  Now, James O’Keefe has not dared to set foot in NH because of the possible charges he would face.

We need to repeal the Voter ID law before more people are turned away from their Congressional right to vote.

Voter ID Impact on NH Taxpayers

  By New Hampshire Labor News | January 28, 2013 - 2:13 pm | ,
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get out and vote

When New Hampshire voters went to the polls this year they were asked to show an ID due to the new Voter photo ID bill. On September 1, 2013, that law changes and becomes more restrictive by limiting the list of ID’s that will be accepted in order to cast your vote. The law removes the ability to use most forms of photo ID including those issued by a state, county or municipal government, a valid student ID, an ID determined to be legitimate by local election officials, and simple identity verification by local town officials. Voters without acceptable ID’s will not only have to sign an affidavit but will be required to have a poll worker take their photo before being allowed to vote. The poll workers will then have to print a color copy of the photo in real time and affix it to the voter’s signed affidavit. Not only will the number of individuals who get caught up in the process increase but so will state expenditures to implement the changes.  How much more will this cost the state? Roughly a quarter million dollars was requested by the Secretary of State’s office for FY14 & FY15.

America was founded on the principle that we’re all created equal.  Inside the voting booth, all Americans have an equal and unencumbered voice in our democracy. But instead, some want you to believe it’s a privilege to vote and not a right and those people are willing to make it harder for some to cast their ballot. That’s the real reason why they want to limit the number of ID’s that are acceptable. They will try to convince you that voter impersonation is rampant in New Hampshire, but we know from thorough investigations that this just is not the case. There have only been three cases of voter fraud according to fraud reports issued by the SOS and AG’s office since 2006. The most recent case at the polls in NH was that of James O’Keefe, the conservative activist who was attempting to make a point that voter impersonation is possible, but fell short of proving anything about actual voter impersonation; instead all he proved was his unfamiliarity with New Hampshire voting law, landing himself in hot water. We all agree that protecting the integrity of our elections is vitally important—that’s why we already have strict laws and protections in place.

Proponents of Voter photo ID will also try to convince you that Voter ID laws are no big deal – that you need an ID to get on an airplane or buy a beer. The problem is that neither of those actions is enshrined in our Constitution – voting is. And contrary to their belief, not everyone does have an ID. Just this past election 5,424 people in New Hampshire didn’t have an ID to vote. That’s 5,424 people who might not  cast a vote next election year because they lack ID – no matter who they are, where they come from, what they look like and who they vote for, that’s 5,424 too many.

If those reasons alone don’t give you pause to think twice about the real implications of voter photo ID, then I hope the financial implications will. It is just too expensive to implement when there have only been three cases of voter fraud as reported by the Secretary of State’s office and the Attorney General in the last 8 years. More people get struck by lightning than impersonate another voter at the polls. Is a quarter of a million worth those odds? I think not.

Jess Clark
Political and Field Director
America Votes

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NH AFL-CIO Presents Movie Night : ELECTORIAL DYSFUNCTION with Mo Rocca

  By New Hampshire Labor News | January 22, 2013 - 5:56 pm |
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morocca

morocca

Thursday, February 7
6:00pm

New Hampshire  AFL-CIO 
Movie Night!

Electoral Dysfunction
is the first documentary project to take an irreverent — but nonpartisan — look at voting in America. In the same way that An Inconvenient Truth revealed the need for immediate action on global warming—the film will help spark a national dialogue on the steps ordinary citizens can take to ensure that every vote counts.

Mo’s quest—set against the backdrop of the historic 2008 presidential election—leads him to Indiana, home to some of the toughest voting laws in the country. As he progresses on his journey, Mo investigates the heated battle over Voter ID and voter fraud; searches for the Electoral College; critiques ballot design with Todd Oldham; and explores the case of a former felon who was sentenced to ten years in prison—for the crime of voting.

Movie Night is FREE and open to NH AFL-CIO members and guests.
Call (603) 623-7302 for more information.

Thursday, February 7, 2013 – 6:00pm
161 Londonderry Turnpike, Hooksett

Sen. Candidate Phyllis Woods Misinforms Voters About Voting Requirements

  By New Hampshire Labor News | November 1, 2012 - 11:46 am | , , ,
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Candidate mailing tells voters ‘voter identification will be required’

DOVER, NH – Senate candidate Phyllis Woods sent a mass mailing to the voters of Senate District 4 with the wrong information about Election Day voting requirements. The mailing reads: “Voter identification will be required. Remember your Photo ID.”

The NH Voter Protection team issued the following statement from Sarah Chaisson Warner, Executive Director of New Hampshire Citizens Alliance:

“This information is misleading. New Hampshire citizens need to know that they can vote even if they don’t have photo identification. Voters can always fill out an affidavit instead. We are very concerned about misinformation being spread by candidates or parties. It is particularly important that Granite Staters know there are alternatives to providing a photo ID this year, especially since the State of New Hampshire was so late in offering voters alternative forms of photo identification.”

“We call on Phyllis Woods to issue a clarifying statement to the voters in Senate District 4 and to refrain from using misleading statements like this in any subsequent mailings.”

NH Citizens Alliance is part of a voter protection team that will have poll watchers stationed throughout the state to hold voter education signs and monitor any issues that arise on Election Day. NH Citizens Alliance and Granite State Progress Education Fund have also released a website, www.NHvoterprotection.org, with information addressing the ins and outs of the new voter ID laws. The joint project aims to make sure no voter feels intimidated or pressured while performing his or her constitutional right to cast a ballot.

A copy of the Woods mailing is available by request. The Voter Protection team will be watching out for similar candidate mailings.

The Story Of One Womans Fight To Vote

  By Matt Murray | October 1, 2012 - 9:45 pm | , ,
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get out and vote

New Hampshire is in a very heated battle over Voter ID.  The Good thing is that right now in 2012 you cannot be turned away from voting.  You can use same day registrations, you can use your ID or don’t use your ID, the choice is yours.

We are still awaiting the final ruling from the NH Supreme Court to rule on the new NH Voter ID laws.  When it comes to voting rights we should always look at how far we have come as a nation.  At one time women had to fight for the right to vote.  Then African-Americans had to fight for their right to vote.  People had to endure poll taxes and outrageous laws that kept them from their right to vote.

Today the Minnesota AFL-CIO released a short video of Eve Black speaking to a modest crowd in Saint Paul, Minnesota.  Eve is a SAG-AFTRA member and former board member. Eve told the story of her 78-year-old great-grandmother who was violently murdered after attending a civil rights meeting in Mississippi. Her ancestors, like many others, fought hard and even died for equal voting rights.


Here we are in 2012 fight once again that everyone has their equal right to vote.  This time is not about skin color it is something else.  That is also the problem there is no one group that is harmed in these attacks on voting rights.  It effects everyone, young and old, rural and urban, black and white.  Adelina Hamilton died fighting for her belief that everyone has the right to vote.  Do we really want to go back to that place again?

COURT ORDER CONFIRMS STUDENTS’ RIGHT TO VOTE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

  By New Hampshire Labor News | September 24, 2012 - 8:23 pm | ,
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Vote

Concord, N.H.–Voting rights groups applauded Strafford Superior Court Judge John Lewis’ order, today, to the Secretary of State to issue new voter registration forms for this election. The new registration forms will delete a paragraph that advised all voters they would be subject to registering a car and getting a state driver’s license if they registered to vote. The order also instructs the Secretary of State to post new information on his website and to inform election officials in towns and cities to immediately begin using the corrected voter registration from.  This decision is based upon the recognition that individuals who are in the state for a limited period of time, such as students or persons doing military duty, have a absolute right to vote here while living in NH, but are unable to get NH drivers licenses because the motor vehicle law limits residents to those who intend to stay permanently or indefinitely.

“We are very pleased the Judge agreed with our concern that students who come to college in New Hampshire might give up their right to vote because of concerns about registering a car and getting a New Hampshire driver’s license even when they knew they would leave after graduation,” said Joan Flood Ashwell, election law specialist for the League of Women Voters of New Hampshire.

“The new paragraph on the voter registration form was confusing and misleading, and there was no clarifying information on the Secretary of State’s website. Now, the website will state clearly the difference between domicile for voting and residence for motor vehicles purposes, and it will clearly state that out-of-state college students do not have to register a car in New Hampshire or get a state driver’s license as a condition for voting,” she said.

The petition for an injunction against the law was filed by the New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union on behalf of four college students who came from other states to study in New Hampshire and who plan to leave after their studies are complete. The League of Women Voters of New Hampshire and Joan Flood Ashwell were also plaintiffs. America Votes New Hampshire works closely with the League and the NHCLU on election issues.

NH Voter’s Prove That NH Is Not Ready For Voter ID

  By Matt Murray | September 14, 2012 - 4:19 pm |
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get out and vote

Since the 2010 election, there has been an emergence of the Voter ID laws throughout the nation.  Many of these laws were popping up in many Republican controlled legislatures and New Hampshire was no exception. This occurred in part due to the model legislation written by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), that was then (mainly) introduced by conservative legislators across the country.

 

The Voter ID Law in NH was worked by both the House and Senate over the past session, before being vetoed – twice – by Governor Lynch.  With more than a three to one majority in the NH Legislature, this year’s veto was overridden and the new Voter ID became law.

 

The most important part of NH’s Voter ID law is that no voter can be turned away – this year.   This means even if you do not have an ID you can still vote and your vote will count.  In order for this to happen you must sign an affidavit that states you are who you say you are.

 

The news about the Voter ID’s Primary Day trial run failure is coming in so fast that it may be hard to keep track.  First there was a report from America Votes, that voters were being turned away.  “New Photo ID Law Wreaks Havoc During State Primary”

 

The majority of the problems surrounding the Primary Day debacle was that voters were being turned away.  According to America Votes,  “a Manchester voter had been turned away without a ballot because they didn’t have their ID with them”.  This is exactly what legislators said would not happen in NH.

 

America Votes quickly blamed the state for rushing the implementation of this new law saying: “New Hampshire clearly isn’t prepared to implement this law without further disenfranchising Granite State voters.”

 

Remember this was only the Primary.  New Hampshire had approximately 190,000 people vote in the primary election.  That is a fraction of the 1.3 million who current live here.  I can only image what will happen on November 6th. In 2008 New Hampshire cast over 700,000 votes in the Presidential Election.  If this election is anything like last year there will be massive lines just to vote.  Now add in the confusion of the people who do not have ID’s and still want to vote. Or worse are told to ‘go get your ID then get back in line’.  Many people would not come back.

 

To add insult to injury many voters were given misinformation about the new Voter ID law.  Telling people that if they did not have an ID they could not vote in November.

 

Why is this happening?  Why are election workers telling people the wrong information?  My guess is that because they do not know the truth, and they have not been properly trained on how to implement this new law.  It is important to note that New Hampshire has NO funding designated to train election workers on the proper way to administer the new laws.

 

Since there is no money to train workers, you can be darn sure there is no money to explain to the people of New Hampshire how these new laws work.  But isn’t that what they want?  They want people who do not have ID’s to stay home and not vote.  These people could be college students who are living in New Hampshire and attending one our outstanding Universities, or an elderly person who no longer drives and has no need for a state drivers license.

 

The story does not end there.  The League of Women Voters and the American Civil Liberties Union are going after the state for changes to the law the specifically target students.  “There’s been a number of attempts over the last few years to keep certain qualified citizens from voting in New Hampshire, and students have been the particular topics of most of those attempts,” said Joan Ashwell, a voting law expert with the League.[1]

 

These are the same voters that NH House Speaker Bill O’Brien famously said ‘kids are coming out of the school….foolish voting as a liberal(s)’.

 

New Hampshire is clearly not ready to institute these new voting laws.  If they continue with this plan countless numbers of Granite Stater’s will more than likely be turned away from the polls and therefore refused their Constitutional Right to vote.  I though this was the ‘Live Free or Die’ state not the ‘I make the rules and you don’t get a vote anymore’.


[1] http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/354537/nhclu-suit-challenges-election-law?SESSc0c2960ca57638755588b9471ee79d0f=google&page=full

NH Labor News 9/2/12: PFF-NH Ride in Honor of Sarah Fox, New Jobs in NH, Unions Have Been Fighting For Workers For Many Years, Northern Pass Protests, and more

  By New Hampshire Labor News | September 2, 2012 - 11:10 am | ,
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Bread And Roses 8hour rule

Remembering Sarah: Riders honor former Portsmouth firefighter’s fight with cancer – Fosters: “ringing awareness and support together in one huge effort, bikers, firefighters, friends and law enforcement came out to remember late Portsmouth firefighter Sarah Fox, who passed away last December after battling cancer.

“It was easy to get involved with this,” Al Coutois, owner of Seacoast Harley-Davidson, said. Riders came from the stores three locations including North Hampton, Rochester and Everett, Mass., entering the parking lot in one massive parade of bikes around 12:30 p.m.

“The how and why was easy. We got to know Sarah when she was here,” Coutois said. Fox had attended the event herself just last year.”

N.H. future bright for job seekers: State officials see promise in manufacturing, health care, tourism within next several years – Fosters: “DOVER — For job seekers in New Hampshire, advanced manufacturing, health care and tourism are among the industries that hold promise within the next several years, according to state officials.

Manufacturing, in particular, has become a major focus in the state, which is poised to add hundreds of new jobs in the field of advanced manufacturing in coming years.

However, securing those jobs will likely require a higher degree of training and education than the manufacturing jobs of the past, according to Michael Power, of the state’s Office of Workforce Opportunity.

“That’s our key,” Power said. “That’s our economic strength. Manufacturing pays the highest wage … and it’s huge. It’s a career path.”"

For many in NH,1 job is not enough | New Hampshire NEWS02: “New Hampshire has averaged 84,500 residents considered underemployed monthly — including 35,300 working part time but wanting full-time work, according to federal figures for the year ending in June.

“That’s a sign of how difficult this economic downturn has been for everybody,” said Dennis Delay, an economist at the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies in Concord.

“Frankly, employers are still somewhat reluctant in certain sectors of the economy to hire people,” Delay said. “If someone is working for you part time, as an employer, you’re not obligated to pay for their health care.””

Erica Bryant: Brave local workers fought for your rights | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com: “I can’t tell you the names of the men wearing the gas masks in this 1933 photograph. Or the men who joined them unprotected, even though their demonstration of support for the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America was likely to be met with chemical weapons.

The photo was taken toward the end of that union’s long war against sweatshop conditions and starvation wages in Rochester’s garment factories. By that time, just two factories were holding out against recognizing the union and its demands for a 40-hour work week and increased wages.”

Hundreds protest Northern Pass | New Hampshire NEWS06: “More than 200 demonstrators gathered in the park across from Colebrook Town Hall to sing protest songs, listen to political speakers and make their views known.

The $1.1 billion project, being proposed by Northeast Utilities and Hydro-Quebec, would run a high-power transmission line across 180 miles of land from Pittsburg to Deerfield. It would use 140 miles of existing rights of way owned by Public Service of New Hampshire and 40 miles of new rights of way. ”

Garry Rayno’s State House Dome: Bill eyed to prevent failures that led to hepatitis C spread | New Hampshire NEWS0604: “COMMUTER RAIL: The Business and Industry Association will host a forum on commuter rail Sept. 17 at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord.

In partnership with the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, the Nashua Regional Planning Commission and the New Hampshire Economic Development Association, the forum is titled “Commuter Rail in New Hampshire — Economic Catalyst or Multi-Million Dollar Mistake?”

Voter ID won’t stop your vote | SeacoastOnline.com: “As Rep. Donna Schlachman, D-Exeter, said: “If just one person does not show up to vote due to confusion over Voter ID requirements, this law has done harm. In a country noted for low voter turnout, the last thing we need is the perception that it will be harder to cast a ballot in 2012.”"

Annual NH Labor Day breakfast features Lynch, national union official: “New Hampshire’s AFL-CIO Labor Day breakfast will feature Gov. John Lynch and the organization’s national secretary-treasurer.

National AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler will be the keynote speaker at Monday’s breakfast. She will recognize contributions by New Hampshire workers and emphasize the labor movement’s commitment to creating good jobs. She also will discuss the choices posed by the upcoming election.

Besides Lynch and Shuler, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and congressional candidates Ann Kuster and Carol Shea-Porter are scheduled to attend.

The breakfast is at 9 a.m. at the St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Manchester.”

Remember the Bread and Roses

NH Labor News 8/22/12: Prison Privatization Update, Voter ID, Medicare, RTW for Less, and Minimum Wage

  By New Hampshire Labor News | August 22, 2012 - 9:00 am | ,
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Labor Quotes Change To Win

Pension Privatization Update: House Committee Scopes Out Financial Services Firms | StateImpact New Hampshire: “Today, a legislative committee investigating pension privatization issued a request for information from companies that manage retirement funds.

After pension reform legislation failed to pass last term, House Speaker O’Brien requested that a committee convene over the summer to craft new legislation for next term. The committee will likely propose to move all new public employees to private, defined contribution plans — like a 401(k).”

Combat voter ID law with education | Concord Monitor: “Jack Saunders has the right idea. Saunders, who lives in Holderness, is the author of a letter to the editor published in the Sunday Monitor. He suggested that one good way to combat the cynical intent behind New Hampshire’s new voter ID law is to educate people about it so they’re not surprised or frustrated on Election Day.”

Feds still reviewing N.H. Medicaid care management plan – Fosters: “Federal health care regulators are still evaluating New Hampshire’s proposal to implement a new care management system for Medicaid beneficiaries.

Launching the new system will require a waiver from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).”

Success of Indiana’s right-to-work law disputed » Evansville Courier & Press: “Officials at 20 companies have said Indiana’s passage of a right-to-work law earlier this year was a factor in their decisions to bring more jobs to the state, according to Daniel Hasler, who leads the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

However, Nancy Guyott, a union leader and the state’s biggest right-to-work opponent, questioned the numbers.

The conflict occurred Monday after Hasler presented the information to the General Assembly’s Interim Study Committee on Economic Development. Hasler said companies have told the agency that right to work “does matter.”"

» STUDY: States with Higher Minimum Wage Have Had Less Employment Loss During the Great Recession: “Because attempts to increase the minimum wage are being met head on by the GOP talking point that doing so would cause employers to cut jobs and hours, the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center looked at two decades of data in their recent report, The Minimum Wage and Job Creation.

The study found that minimum wage increases have not had a negative effect on employment in New England.

In Massachusetts alone, the minimum wage has increased six times since 1995. During this period, growth in industries with concentrations of high minimum wage earners has been higher than total employment.”

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