Thank you for voting to kill a bad election law bill. We are very grateful to you for protecting election workers from anyone filing a lawsuit.
HB 514 would have allowed private individuals to sue for violations of election laws. The authority to adjudicate such matters appropriately lay with the Attorney General, who after receiving reports from individuals, ultimately decides which cases are suitable to pursue. HB 514 went too far and was unnecessary, given New Hampshire’s strong record of secure and trustworthy elections. It could have placed an undue burden on election workers who were simply trying to do their jobs. The bill also lacked clear guidelines on what constituted a violation significant enough to warrant a lawsuit. This vagueness could have led to confusion and inconsistent legal actions, undermining the clarity and fairness of election law enforcement.
