New Hampshire Ranks Worst in the Nation for ‘Cost’ of Voting
Resistance to common-sense policy and new anti-voter policies make New Hampshire the most ‘costly’ state to vote in in the country
CONCORD, NH — A new study this week found that New Hampshire ranked 50th out of the 50 states in the 2022 Cost of Voting Index. The index compares 10 areas of voting laws and the personal costs associated with the time and effort it takes to cast a ballot. Because of resistance from conservatives to common-sense voting laws that improve access to the ballot — like automatic or online voter registration, and anti-voter laws like SB 418 pushed through with the support of conservatives in the legislature, Governor Sununu, and Secretary Scanlan, the Granite State is the most ‘costly’ state in which to cast a ballot.
“Today's report underscores the need for New Hampshire, a state that prides itself on our elections and home to the first-in-the-nation primary, to take long overdue common sense steps to modernize our elections. Our Secretary of State and conservative legislators spend more time advancing confusing voting restrictions instead of supporting our local election officials and ensuring every voter has free and fair access to the ballot box,” said McKenzie St. Germain, director of the New Hampshire Campaign for Voting Rights. “This should be a wake-up call for the Secretary of State and anti-voter lawmakers, we must improve access to our elections.”
The New Hampshire Campaign for Voting Rights has outlined a platform, backed by national and local voting rights experts and advocates, with recommendations for the Special Committee on Voter Confidence and lawmakers that would strengthen access and security for New Hampshire’s elections. Many of these recommendations have substantial support from Granite State voters of both parties. Recommendations include: implementing online and automatic voter registration; enrolling in the Election Registration Information Center (ERIC) to ensure our voter rolls are clean and accurate; and improving election information available on state and town websites. The full platform as presented to the Special Committee on Voter Confidence is available below:
Administrative Improvements
These changes will assist voters in understanding how to vote in their communities, as well as support election officials in running polling places on Election Day.
Provide a template for towns for their websites so each town website is up-to-date and accurate
Ensure the Secretary of State’s (SOS) website has up-to-date polling hours and locations
Ensure the SOS website has easy-to-understand and accessible guidelines for registering to vote and voting
New ballot counting devices to ensure that ballot machines stop breaking down during election day
Expansion of e-poll books so every community who wishes to use them, can use them.
Utilize additional state funding or Help America Vote Act (HAVA) grants for local election officials to support their work and help recruit and train poll workers and volunteers.
Includes using the existing HAVA funds for towns and cities to draw from via grants which could fund trainings, educational materials, assist with recruiting new volunteers or poll workers
Voter Access Improvements
These policies will create greater access for voters to New Hampshire elections by providing additional opportunities to register to vote and access their registration and voting information
Implement proven secure registration tools including:
Online Voter Registration (Or Election Information Portal)
Automated Voter Registration
Multi-lingual registration and voting documents
At minimum provided in Spanish
Expanding absentee voting to codify the AG and Governor's orders from the 2020 election.
Post Election Improvements
These improvements will increase trust in our elections by ensuring accurate post-election data on results and voter rolls
Join the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) so New Hampshire can have clean voter rolls and accurate data post-election—boosting confidence in our elections.
Implement a robust post-election audit system
These proposed upgrades and improvements for New Hampshire’s election administration, access, and post-election processes are data-driven and will increase access and trust for all Granite State voters. The Special Committee on Voter Confidence should include these policy proposals in any final materials and recommendations made by the committee.
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 Granite Stater, and is a project of America Votes New Hampshire.
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