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Contentious hearing on HB 418: sponsors say constitution should govern absentee reasons; disability and clerks warn of disenfranchisement
Summary
Lawmakers heard hours of testimony on HB 418, a bill that would narrow reasons for absentee ballots and, its sponsor said, restore control of eligibility to the state constitution.
Representative John Sellers introduced HB 418 as an effort to return the determination of absentee reasons to voters and to the constitution. Sellers said the state constitution historically specified only two reasons (absent from the town or physical disability) and that expansions in statute had created an expanding list of reasons best decided by the people through constitutional amendment.
Multiple witnesses, including Kristen Evans of ABLE New Hampshire, the New Hampshire City and Town Clerks Association (represented by…
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