FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 11, 2024

Young Leaders Send Letter to Secretary of State Following Testimony

Dear Secretary Scanlan,

As young elected leaders from towns and cities across New Hampshire, we are writing to express our deep concerns about House Bills 1569 and 1370. These bills have far-reaching implications for our communities, and we believe it is essential to thoroughly understand their potential impacts. Before the committee of conference on Wednesday, we respectfully request your presence and detailed responses to several critical questions.

Our role as local leaders is to represent and protect all members of our communities, including many new Americans and first-time voters. These bills, if enacted, appear to significantly hinder their ability to participate in our democracy. 

We also share concerns regarding the potential loss of our NVRA (National Voter Registration Act) exemption and how complying with the NVRA would impact elections moving forward. 

To fully comprehend the practical impacts of these bills, we need answers to the following questions:

  1. What percentage of Granite Staters have access to citizenship documents?

  2. Are you worried about losing our NVRA exemption, and can you explain why or why not?

  3. What percentage of Granite Staters were born outside of New Hampshire?

  4. How will these measures impact married women whose names may not match their birth certificates? Will they need to bring their marriage certificates, and what if they were married outside New Hampshire?

  5. What provisions are there for U.S. citizens born abroad, including those born to military families?

  6. How many voters will these bills affect? 

  7. What number of affected voters do you consider acceptable?

  8. What happens if someone shows up to register without a birth certificate or passport? 

  9. How long does it typically take to obtain citizenship documents, and what are the associated costs?

  10. Regarding the proposed election hotline, how will it operate, what will it cost, how many staff will it require, and what is the expected duration of the average call? 

    1. Does your office support state funds to support that hotline? 

  11. Do you anticipate long lines and delays, and do all New Hampshire polling locations have adequate cell phone service to support this hotline?

As leaders who represent thousands of voters, as young leaders dedicated to fostering an inclusive and participatory democracy, we urge you to provide thorough responses to guide discussions and decision making heading into the fall.

Sincerely,

Alex de Geofroy, City Council, Rochester

Ali Sekou, City Council, Concord

Angela Brennan, Select Board, Bow

Christopher Potter, School Board , Manchester

Crystal Paradis-Catanzaro, City Council, Somersworth

Curtis Register, Town Council, Durham

Emily Friedrichs, Town Council, Durham

Heather Raymond, School Board , Nashua

Joanna Kelley, Asstistant Mayor, Portsmouth

Jon Morgan, Select Board, Brentwood

Jordan Applewhite, Supervisor of the Checklist, Sugar Hill

Karen Hegner, Ward Selectman, Manchester

Kendra Cohen, School Board, Deerfield

Linnea Nemeth, City Council, Dover

Liz Wester, Board of Registrars, Manchester

Marcella Termini, Ward Clerk, Manchester

Matt Gerding, Mayor, Somersworth

Micaela Demeter, School Board, Dover

Molly Cowan, Select Board, Exeter

Sara Persechino, Moderator, Hopkinton

Sarah O’Brien-Hart, School Board, Somersworth

Stephen Meno, Ward Selectman, Manchester