Comprehensive Republican legislation aimed at tightening the state’s voter registration process requires that new voters back up their claims of a Granite State domicile with “a verifiable act or acts” showing that they are not in New Hampshire temporarily. The legislation also makes it clear that voting in more than one state in the same election a is Class B felony with a maximum sentence of seven years in prison and a fine of no more than $4,000. State Sen. Regina Birdsell, R-Hampstead, first described her comprehensive amendment to Senate Bill 3 in an exclusive interview with WMUR.com a week ago. The 11-page amendment has now been drafted, and it was officially released on Thursday by the state Senate. View the amendment here.
Birdsell told WMUR.com on Thursday the Senate Election Law and Internal Affairs Committee, which she chairs, will hold a public hearing on the amendment on Tuesday, March 7. She said the committee will vote its recommendation on the bill on March 14 and the full Senate is expected to vote on it on March 23.
She said she is optimistic that the amended bill will pass the Senate, in which Republicans hold a 14-10 majority, and will then be sent to the House. Last week, describing her plan to WMUR.com, Birdsell said the guiding principle is: “Trust, but verify.”
“In order to claim domicile in this state, it can’t be just an idea in your head,” Birdsell said. “It’s going to require that you show you have an intent to stay, and then it has to be coupled with a verifiable act and proof of that.”
Full Article: New sweeping NH Senate GOP voter registration bill detailed: Requires ‘verifiable’ proof of domicile.