Democrats Call for Tougher Election Day Law

By Dan Gorenstein on Thursday, February 13, 2003.

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Prominent Democrats took the occasion of a statehouse hearing yesterday to condemn the use of telephones for dirty tricks on Election Day.

They want the state to pass tougher penalties for interfering with political communications.

NHPRï¿½s Dan Gorenstein reports.

Right now, any person or organization that restricts political efforts to contact voters on Election Day gets slapped with a misdemeanor.

The fine is 1000 dollars, and no jail time.

House Democratic Leader Peter Burling says dirty trick tactics, like blocking get-out-the-vote phone banks, is a growing problem in the state.

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1:27 weï¿½ve got a dangerous vicious beast loose in the world of our elections, the name of that beast is dirty tricks. And the dirty beast feeds on our refusal to come to grips and set limits on stupid, innaporpriate, venal election behavior. Which suppresses the will of the people to vote, the outcome of elections, and denigrates the longest surviving republic in the history of man.

The collective dander of Democrats is way up after allegations last week that the Republican Party hired a telemarketer to jam Democratic Party phone lines around the state on Election Day.

The GOP Executive Director, Chuck McGee resigned his position over claims that he lied about hiring the firm.

Republican Party officials say they did not request any phone jamming services, and denounce the act.

The measure in front of House lawmakers would increase the crime from a misdemeanor to a felony.

If convicted, a person could face a fine, prison time, and most notably says State Democratic Chair Kathy Sullivan, the loss of voting rights.

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:14 I think losing the right to vote is actually the most appropriate penalty for someone who violates election laws, b/c I think that is the worst thing you can do to someone involved in politics.

An ACLU official testified that taking away a personï¿½s right to vote goes too far.

No Republicans testified for or against the measure.

An amendment attached to the bill would create a Legislative Committee to investigate the apparent phone jamming of Democratic offices and the Manchester Fire Department last November.

For NHPR News, Iï¿½m DG.