While I am at this moment reasonably healthy, I am 75 years old, thus, in a high risk age group.  By voting absentee, I will not only protect myself and the people I live with, but will minimize the exposure poll workers will be faced with.  For me, it is a sign of respect to those workers.

I am glad that there is now a downloadable form at SOS.NH.GOV (also available on the city/town’s website) that allows one to check off “Concern for COVID-19” as a reason, and one form can be used for both the September primary and November general election. 

I am, however, concerned that page two of the request form has words crossed out which causes confusion and may lead an applicant to think they have the wrong form. It also calls into question the professionalism of the Secretary of State’s (SOS) office.  If the SOS’s staff is pressed for time, I would be happy to drop by the office and volunteer my word processing skills to make these corrections to this important form.

Voters are held to a very high standard to have their absentee ballots filled out correctly or face having their ballot rejected. They currently face many threats to the system working effectively.  I hope that the Secretary of State’s office will hold itself to a high standard, as well.

Judith Ackerson
Cc:  William Gardner, Secretary of State