Joan Dargie

This amendment introduces a misdemeanor-level offense for public employees, including appointed City Clerks, who, in the course of performing their official duties, are perceived to act in “any way designed to influence the vote or a voter on any question or office.” This language is overly broad and could criminalize routine, nonpartisan actions such as sharing educational materials or distributing voter guides. It is important to note that RSA 659:44-a already prohibits public employees from using government resources for electioneering. The proposed amendment goes beyond this, creating unnecessary ambiguity that may lead to misinterpretation and costly legal challenges for cities and towns. Furthermore, it appears this amendment was prompted by a single incident in Goffstown involving a candidate forum. We believe legislation should address systemic issues, not isolated events or personal grievances.