Residency bill causes controversy

by Autumn Braley

Three New Hampshire political leaders split along party lines when it comes to the state’s new Residency Law.  The three met with students taking part in the Presidency and the Press program at various times on Tuesday.

Outside the State capital building, Joe Sweeney, a member of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee, defended the newly-passed Residency Law.  The law requires voters to be a resident of the state. Sweeney argued that the bill will prevent fraudulent voting.

Later in the morning, the students heard Raymond Buckley, the  NH Democratic Party Chair, attack the bill. He said that it was “a way of intimidation to prevent young people from voting.” He said that this was the Republicans trying to rig the election so they win every time.  

Describing the differences between Democrats and Republicans, Buckley said, “A Democrat wakes up every morning thinking of we, and how they can help and benefit others, but Republicans wake up thinking of me and how they benefit themselves.”

For their final political interview of the day, students met with NH governor Chris Sununu.

Sununu said the Residency Law would provide fairness and equal opportunity, and the state was closing a loophole for voting.  Sununu believes that the bill will encourage young people to become residents, which will lead to an increase in voting numbers.

Students also asked Sununu for his stance of social media in the campaign trail.  “It’s awful,” he said. “Social media is the bane of human existence. It taught us that we can treat people like dirt as long as we aren’t looking them in the eye.”