FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 31, 2020
CONTACT
Bobby Collins
(908) 268-9861
Birdsell, Gray Applaud Governor’s Election Law Vetoes
Concord, NH – Today, Governor Sununu Vetoed SB 7, establishing the secure modern accurate registration act and HB 1665, establishing an independent redistricting commission. Senator Regina Birdsell (R-Hampstead) and Senator James Gray (R-Rochester) issued the following statements:
“Creating an independent redistricting commission will create a problem that does not exist in New Hampshire by allowing unelected members, nominated by party leaders, to advocate the partisan interests of political parties,” said Senator Regina Birdsell (R-Hampstead). “This gives away a legislative duty, that Granite Staters elect their Representatives in Concord to perform, to people who cannot be held accountable by the voters. Governor Sununu has, again, made the right decision by vetoing this legislation and supporting a process that has worked in New Hampshire for centuries.”
“The so called ‘SMART Act’ ignores the concerns of the Town Clerks Association and the Department of Motor Vehicles who testified in committee that it would increase property taxes and create even longer lines at the DMV,” said Senator James Gray (R-Rochester). “New Hampshire already has one of the highest voter participation rates in the country with 96% of eligible voters being registered. This legislation would waste valuable taxpayer dollars to establish a system that will have minimal benefits to the people of the Granite State. I applaud Governor Sununu for vetoing this bill and will continue to work with him to support election policies that are truly ‘smart’ in the future.”
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