Open and accessible government

When I ran for election, one of my priorities was championing open and accessible government.

There will be a hearing for HB411 in the election law committee this week.  This bill will allow candidates and supporters to stand 10' away from the polling place.  In the past it has been up to the moderator and, in my experience, has been inconsistent and a barrier to voters to meet and ask questions of the candidates.

Here is my letter to this committee.  The bill text follows.


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1/29/11

To Members of the Election Law Committee:


I see that you will have a hearing this week on HB411.  I would like to say that I strongly support this legislation.  I represent 3 communities and I find the way in which the moderators determine how far back you can stand to hold your sign inconsistent from election to election.  In one town they made us stand so far back that it was nearly impossible for anyone to park and easily walk to us to ask any questions.

In NH, I am proud that our officials are so accessible.  I am a strong advocate for open, transparent and accessible government.  Government is for the people and by the people.  We must make government and elected officials as accessible as possible  Changing this legislation would ensure that anyone can easily meet and ask questions of candidates.  There should be as few barriers as possible to voting and knowing the person for whom you may vote.

Thank you for your consideration.

Best,
Jenna

_______________________________________

Representative Jenna Roberts

Durham  *  Lee  *  Madbury

E:  Jenna.Roberts@Leg.State.NH.US
FB: NH Rep Jenna Roberts
TW: NHRepRoberts

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HB 411 – AS INTRODUCED

2011 SESSION

11-0683

03/01

HOUSE BILL 411

AN ACT relative to distributing campaign materials at the polling place.

SPONSORS: Rep. Hikel, Hills 7

COMMITTEE: Election Law

ANALYSIS

This bill specifies the dimensions of the corridor in which distributing campaign materials is prohibited at the polling place.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

11-0683

03/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eleven

AN ACT relative to distributing campaign materials at the polling place.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Distributing Campaign Materials at Polling Place. Amend RSA 659:43, II to read as follows:

II. No person who is a candidate for office or who is representing or working for a candidate shall distribute any campaign materials or perform any electioneering activities or any activity which affects the safety, welfare, and rights of voters within a corridor 10 feet wide and extending a distance of 10 feet from the entrance door of the building [as determined by the moderator] where the election is being held.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2012.