Abraham Lincoln

Bowing to pressures of partisan politics, New Hampshire House’s recently voted to remand a bill eliminating straight-ticket voting to a committee for “further study”.  The suggestion that since the bill changes the status quo, it needed further consideration borders on the ludicrous!

Rather than denying any person the right to cast all their votes for candidates from a single party, it would have simply eliminated the mindless exercise of marking a single “X” for a party’s slate, possibly without even glancing at the name at the head of the ticket.  The bill would only require voters to at least scan the ballot and vote on an office-by-office basis. 

However, there is still hope for the redemption of these misguided representatives.

Winding their way through the legislative process are several bills which can materially effect the rights of New Hampshire citizens to participate directly in shaping their government’s actions.

Clearly the most far-reaching proposals would give the people of New Hampshire the right of initiative petition, now enjoyed by the citizens of twenty-four other states.  If passed, it would permit individuals to gather signatures in support of a cause … thereby gaining ballot access … to enact new legislation, repeal laws currently on the books and even amend the state’s constitution. 

Some members of the House, where similar legislation has been killed in the past, will perceive this bill as another threat to their power base.  If so, they have lost sight of the inherent right of the folks who elected them to become active participants in the democratic process when they choose to do so. 

Rather than preempting their constituents, these legislators should demonstrate their faith in the wisdom of the people they represent and pass the initiative petition amendment by the necessary three-fifths margin … thereby placing its ultimate fate in the hands of the voters, where a two-thirds vote is required to actually amend the state’s constitution.

Meantime, there is also mischief afoot.  Most notably, at the hands of a small band of crafty state reps who have proposed the elimination of voting at town and school district meetings.  Under their revisionist proposal, such local meetings would become glorified information events, followed some days later by ballot votes on the various warrant articles.

This legislative proposal is terminally flawed!  Realistically, most local “information” nights are lucky to to turn out more than a fraction of often low numbers who actually attend town and school meetings.  Moreover, this bill would diminish the spontaneity of meaningful debate and preclude the accompanying ability to offer, discuss and vote on amendments from the meeting’s floor.

As to their contention town and school district meeting times often discourage maximum voter participation … one must remember, it is the citizens of the town who elect and thereby employ their selectmen, school boards and moderators.  They have the ultimate power, perhaps through local ballot initiatives, to direct town and school officials when and where to schedule their meetings. 

In fairness, this bill’s sponsors are correct in their contention making public declarations on controversial issues by raising one’s hands or yelling “Yea” of “Nay” at the time votes are called can be intimidating.  Regretfully, this dynamic is especially prevalent at school meetings when votes to cut dollars, programs and/or positions are often viewed as being tantamount to secular heresy.

But, democracy is an intrinsically inefficient and cumbersome form of government.  It strength and survival rest on the courage of citizens to stand up and be counted.  Our “republic was not established by cowards, and cowards will not preserve it.”  Still for those truly intimidated, it only takes ten voters to force a secret ballot vote.

While this bill deserves its day in the sunlight, it also needs to be resoundingly defeated … unless it, too, is shuttled off to a study committee.

In contemplating their crucial votes on these and other similar bills affecting citizen’s participatory rights, each member of the General Court would do well to reflect on words from Washington’s Farewell Address, “The basis of our political system is the right of the people to make and alter their constitutions of government.