House Leaders Comment on Voter ID Compromise

CONCORD – House Speaker William O’Brien (R-Mont Vernon) and House Majority Leader Pete Silva (R-Nashua) offered the following comments in response to the agreement between the House and Senate to pass a voter identification requirement.  The agreement will require an expansive list of identification and an affidavit for this year’s elections, but will require a more limited number of valid photo identifications, and will take a picture of those who do not bring identification to the polls, starting on September 1, 2013.  The agreement goes to the House and Senate floors Wednesday for a final vote.

House Speaker William O’Brien

“Government integrity begins at the ballot box.  New Hampshire citizens deserve the right to have their vote counted rightfully, and not diluted.  This law will bring integrity to the voting system and will ensure that everyone who is a legitimate voter will have a right to vote and that those who cannot identify themselves and know they should not vote, are sent on their way.  This compromise is a testimony to both the House and Senate’s willingness to have clean, honest elections.”

House Majority Leader Pete Silva

“I’m thrilled that we’ve done something to bring honesty to our elections.  As the resident of a border community, I know full well the opportunities for voter fraud, and having stood at the polls all day, seeing cars with Massachusetts plates come through the parking lot, I know that that this law is needed.  This new law would fix this problem and ensure that New Hampshire voters are deciding New Hampshire issues.”