Committee on Voter Confidence Confirms that New Hampshire Elections are Accurate and Secure
Main threat to election confidence is bad actors spreading misinformation
Contact: McKenzie St. Germain
(603) 491-6975
mstgermain@americavotes.org
CONCORD, NH — Today, the Special Committee on Voter Confidence released its final report, which found that New Hampshire’s elections are accurate and secure, and a primary reason for the decrease in voter confidence is the ongoing attack on elections based on disinformation. While the report brings some positive recommendations forward, parts of the report advance dangerous conspiracy theories. These were added in to try to appease Ken Eyring, who did not end up voting for the report.
New Hampshire Campaign for Voting Rights director, McKenzie St. Germain issued the following statement:
“This report reinforces that New Hampshire voters have confidence in their elections, and emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the needs of voters so our elections are accessible, transparent, and easily understood by Granite Staters. We also want to thank the members of the committee who worked to ensure the report reflected the accuracy and security of New Hampshire elections.
“As the New Hampshire Campaign for Voting Rights has said time and time again, New Hampshire can and must do a better job of supporting voters and local election officials. The Secretary of State and legislature must take the findings and recommendations to improve voter access and election modernization seriously in the coming years to make much needed upgrades to our elections. This includes the recommendation that federal and state funds be used to allow cities and towns to purchase new ballot counting devices, e-poll books and other equipment to better the voting experience for voters and elections officials alike. This year a bill has been filed to allow the use of HAVA funds for that exact purpose. At the same time, our leaders must unequivocally reject the malicious disinformation that is eroding confidence in our elections.”
603 Forward Advocacy and Engagement Director Matt Mooshian issued the following statement:
“This report should have been a resounding vote of confidence in our election system with strong recommendations on how to better the process for local election officials and voters. Instead, due largely to the committee appeasing Ken Eyring, a leading election denier and founder of leading election denying organization, the so-called Government Integrity Project, the report fails to completely shut down conspiracy theories and even advances some dangerous mistruths about our election system. Eyring’s participation on this committee continued to drag this report towards misinformation, and weakened the final product.
“Secretary Scanlan should be a leading voice for the accuracy and security of our elections, but by legitimizing those who spread misinformation he only undermined confidence and the work of this committee. We believe in a healthy democracy above all else and will continue to hold those accountable who threaten our future.”
Senior Staff Attorney at the ACLU of New Hampshire, Henry Klementowicz issued the following statement:
"This report confirms what experts across the state have said time and again: our elections in New Hampshire are indeed safe and secure. The perpetuated myth that they are not undermines trust in our electoral system, which is the foundation of our democracy."
The New Hampshire Campaign for Voting Rights is a coalition of state and national advocacy organizations, voters, attorneys and watchdog organizations working to ensure and preserve the right to vote for every eligible Granite Stater, and is a project of America Votes New Hampshire.
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