NHCRN Legislative Testimony on SB 3

 New Hampshire Community Rights Network
102 Lakeview Hts., Alexandria, NH 03222
[email protected]
  
3-7-17
                                                                                          
Re: SB 3, an act relative to domicile for voting purposes.
 Dear Madam Chairwoman and Election Law Committee Members,
   NH Community Rights Network was founded to educate and empower communities and elected officials about our individual and collective right to local self-governance in order to secure and protect the inherent and unalienable rights of all inhabitants of New Hampshire to economic, social and environmental equality and justice, including the rights of nature.
      SB 3 does not propose to protect or expand the voting rights of people within the Granite State. Quite the opposite, this bill proposes to infringe upon the voting rights of those people that may rightfully vote according to existing law and yet somehow find themselves not meeting such a definition of domicile. Therefore, NH Community Rights Network stands opposed to SB 3 and encourages you to vote ITL.
      Law is organic and should change with social needs demanding that protections be specifically extended to human beings that simply want the very same protections that others enjoy. Individuals that “fall through the cracks” of defined domicile will not receive the same protection of their voting rights as those individuals that clearly do meet such a definition. Part 1, Art. 31 of the New Hampshire Constitution makes clear the purpose of the meeting of the New Hampshire legislature, “The legislature shall assemble for the redress of public grievances and for making such laws as the public good may require.” SB 3 is a proposed law that would restrict voting rights, which is not for the public good and therefore should receive a unanimous vote of ITL by the members of this committee.
    Clearly, Part 1, Art. 8 (Accountability of Magistrates and Officers) of the New Hampshire Constitution makes your job very easy, “All power residing originally in, and being derived from the people, all the magistrates and officers of government are their substitutes and agents, and at all times accountable to them.” I urge you to respond to, not just hear the voice of the people – for your power is derived from the people and you are at all times accountable to the people. Maintaining election integrity is important. The Granite State already has in place, a state constitution and existing laws regarding the voting rights of those that inhabit this state. Let’s not create a problem where there isn’t one.
     NH Community Rights Network assists communities in elevating their right to protect themselves and the places they live, for the sake of social equality and justice through the right of local community self-governance. It is not enough to have the right to vote when corporations and governments are able to influence not only how we vote and determine what we vote for, but even whether we can vote. SB 3 is a voter restriction bill and should be recommended ITL by the committee.
Respectfully,
Michelle
Michelle Sanborn
NHCRN Coordinator, Board of Directors
www.nhcommunityrights.org