Pandemic Rules Regarding Absentee Voting Are Still Available.
Due to the Covid pandemic, access to absentee voting was greatly expanded for the 2020 election.
Revised statute, per HB 1266, made it available to those who feared getting infected by voting in person.
Temporary changes for Covid absentee voting applied only to 2020 Primary and General Elections.
Granite State Taxpayers reported on the background for this temporary change in our April 14, 2022 post.
As that post noted, the Emergency Orders ended, Covid has abated and HB 1266 changes expired.
But absentee voting forms updated for the 2022 elections still included the HB 1266 Covid changes.
Updated by the Secretary of State’s office, they were available for download at their website April 12, 2022.
One form, 2022 ABSENTEE VOTER REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS, stated:
“You may register to vote by absentee (by mail) if one of the following is true:
You are unable to vote in person by reason of a physical disability, including concern about exposure to infection from COVID-19 or exposing others;”
After this issue was disclosed on April 13, 2022, the Secretary of State website was revised.
As of April 14, 2022, the forms were no longer available at the Request An Absentee Ballot page.
in April, GST warned that incorrect forms, available for months, may have been used by Town Clerks and made available to voters.
That issue and concern aboutt improper forms was presented to the Secretary of State on April 15, 2022.
BUT, “Covid-phobia as a disability” guidance is still being presented to voters.
Voter guidance for Manchester, NH states:
“Please note that a stated concern for COVID-19 remains a disability for voting purposes in the state of New Hampshire and you may select accordingly under Section II of the Absentee Ballot application when declaring your reason for not voting in person on Election Day.”
Voter guidance for Nashua, NH states:
“Please note that a stated concern for COVID-19 remains a disability for voting purposes in the state of New Hampshire and you may select accordingly under Section II of the Absentee Ballot application when declaring your reason for not voting in person on Election Day.”
Both websites use identical language, suggesting that it was generated by the Secretary of State.
Voter websites in Concord, Portsmouth, Dover, Laconia and Bedford have no such language.
Correcting Absentee voting information will require formal, public action by the Secretary of State.
– Public announcement identifying the incorrect guidance and a committing to making corrections
– Formal direction to Town, City and Ward Clerks to review their public guidance and correct errors
– Documented letters of compliance from each Town, City and Ward Clerks that their guidance is correct
Granite State Taxpayers will act as required to get Absentee Voting instructions corrected.
Posted by GST Chairman Ray F. Chadwick