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Bill would align absentee registration with in-person citizenship documentation; opponents warn of access barriers
Summary
Representative Bob Lynn introduced HB 217 to require the same proof of citizenship for absentee registrants that in-person registrants provide; supporters said it clarifies law, opponents warned of burdens on seniors, disabled and people who changed names, and the committee took public testimony with no final vote recorded.
Representative Robert (Bob) Lynn of Windham told the committee House Bill 217 is intended to make absentee voter registration consistent with House Bill 1569 by requiring documentation of citizenship, identity, age and domicile when applying for absentee ballots.
Lynn said confusion surfaced among town clerks about whether absentee applicants must provide the same documentation. He said some clerks had interpreted the absentee statute as not requiring proof of citizenship and introduced HB 217 to clarify that the same ‘‘acid test’’ (age, identity, domicile, citizenship) applies whether registering in-person or via…
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