The New Hampshire House today voted on CACR 21, a proposed constitutional amendment that would have explicitly affirmed in the New Hampshire Constitution that only United States citizens may vote in New Hampshire’s Elections. Election Law Committee Chairman Ross Berry (R-Weare) released the following statement after House Democrats blocked the passage of the amendment.
“CACR 21 was a straightforward proposal to ensure our Constitution clearly states that voting in New Hampshire elections is a right enshrined for US citizens, something supported by a vast majority of Granite Staters and Americans as a whole,” said House Election Law Committee Chairman Ross Berry. “Unfortunately but unsurprisingly, nearly every single Democrat voted against placing that principle into our Constitution.”
Berry added, “Granite Staters deserve clarity and confidence in the integrity of our elections. It is disappointing that Democrats chose not to support this commonsense protection. Today’s vote makes one thing clear: Republicans are fighting to strengthen election integrity, while Democrats refused to support even the most basic safeguard.”
Background
The amendment, sponsored by House Election Law Committee Chairman Ross Berry and several House Republicans, sought to place the citizenship requirement for voting directly into the state constitution. Despite that recommendation, the amendment failed to secure the three fifths support required for passage after House Democrats voted against it.