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Committee Hears Broad Opposition to Proposal Requiring ID and Notarization for Absentee Ballots
Summary
Witnesses including disability advocates, county officials and voting-rights groups told the House Election Law Committee that Senate Bill 213 would create burdensome, unnecessary hurdles for absentee and first-time registrants and risk disenfranchising older, rural and disabled voters.
The House Election Law Committee heard more than three hours of testimony on Senate Bill 213 on Tuesday, with dozens of witnesses urging the panel to oppose the measure that would require extra documentation and notarization for voters who register or request absentee ballots.
Deputy Secretary of State Erin Hennessy told the committee the secretary’s office and municipal clerks already manage verification and that many of the bill’s new requirements would be difficult to implement for voters who cannot easily leave home.
"The requirement to scan, print and send documents creates serious barriers, particularly for voters with disabilities or limited access to technology," said Sarah Chouinard, voting rights program manager for the New Hampshire Campaign for Voting Rights. "Requiring…
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