Denise Clark

As a native NH retiree, I strongly oppose HB 686. I currently vote absentee. I currently do not have a functional color printer. Why do I need to submit a color copy of my ID AND get my ballot notarized? When I get my property tax bill, no one cares about my ID then. After 50 years of living in the same house, I presume my identity and eligibility to vote have been established. Many seniors and voters with disabilities vote via absentee ballot because they are unable to vote in person on election day. These same voters who may not have transportation or the ability to independently travel are most likely to be affected by needing to find a notary and make a color copy of an ID. Both notarization and color copies have monetary costs – this bill would add those costs and burden to voting absentee. Why should an absentee voter have to pay a price to vote by having to get copies made and to pay a notary? NH has a safe absentee ballot system and one of the most restrictive in the country. Calls for further restrictions are purely voter suppression tactics.