The New Hampshire House recently passed a bill that would change the rules for independent voters who vote in a primary.
It would require independents to remain with the party they chose on Election Day for at least three months before they could switch back to undeclared.
While the measure passed with bipartisan support in the house, it may get more scrutiny in the Senate.
New Hampshire Public Radio's Amy Quinton reports.
About one-third of all New Hampshire voters are undeclared, or not registered as Republican or Democrat.
Under current law, they can vote in either political party’s primary, and then immediately re-register as undeclared before leaving their polling place.
The House Bill would delay that last step by 90 days.
“I don’t know who’s idea this was I think it stinks.â€
Long time independent voter and Manchester resident Lorraine Pelchat echoes many independent’s displeasure with the bill.
Pelchat says the 90 day wait is equivalent to probation and may limit participation.
“A lot of people won’t bother to go to city hall to sign up because some people won’t have the time, they work and that’s what it would doâ€
The House Election Law Committee unanimously recommended the passage of the bill.
Republican Representative William O’Brien – who sits on that committee- says the idea is to strengthen political parties – not discourage independents from voting.
“No one who wants to maintain their undeclared status from primary to primary is prevented from doing that, if after the 90 days or after the general election, a traditionally undeclared voter wants to go back to that status there’s every opportunity in the world to do that.â€
Political leaders and observers seem split on the effect the proposed change would have on voters.
Republican Party Chair Warren Henderson says he see both sides of the issue.
“If I was an independent I’d want to participate openly, but every election I hear from people in my own party who say if it’s a primary then why are people who aren’t in our party helping pick our candidates.â€
Henderson says the party has no position on this.
Democrats are also divided.
State Democratic Party Chair Kathy Sullivan has said that she opposes the measure because it may decrease voter interest among independents.
But Party Vice Chair Raymond Buckley isn’t so sure.
“I find that argument not terribly credible that forcing them to stay in the political party, isn’t some terrible hardshipâ€
And it’s likely that most independents typically lean Republican or Democrat anyway, says Saint Anselm College Political Science Professor Dante Scala.
But Scala says the real debate may be over what effect the proposed change would have on the state’s first in the nation presidential primary.
“Keeping independents involved is one way that we’re unique and that in order to stay first in the nation, we need to keep that unique feature. Others would argue that we would be more attractive as first in the nation if we get rid of or reduce undeclared involvement because that will make it more of a matter for members of the party as opposed to wild card independentsâ€
The issue now heads to the Senate for debate and will likely fall into the hands of the Internal Affairs Committee.
Democratic Senator Margaret Hassan sits on that committee and she’s opposed to the change.
From my perspective as a Democratic we’re an inclusive party, we want as many people to participate in our process as want to, our current system encourages people to get active in either party’s primary.
This bill may force State Senators to decide which is more important– strengthening political parties, or enhancing the image of New Hampshire as a politically independent-minded state.
For NHPR news, I’m Amy Quinton.
