New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlon, in an interview yesterday, provided updates on the primary election taking place in the state. While it was too early to determine if the predicted record turnout of over 320,000 voters would materialize, Scanlon mentioned that there had been a solid surge in turnout early in the day, although it had slightly decreased since then.
Regarding the write-in campaign for President Biden, Scanlon assured that the results would still be available by the end of the night. He explained that New Hampshire had over 100 towns that hand count their ballots using a sort and stack method. In machine count towns, the moderator would need to sort out the write-in ballots, stack them for the relevant candidates, and count them. Additional assistance had been brought in to expedite the process, ensuring that it wouldn't take an extensive amount of time.
Scanlon clarified who was eligible to vote in the primary. Registered Republicans could vote in the Republican primary, while registered Democrats could vote in the Democratic primary. However, undeclared voters had the option to enter the polling place, declare a party, obtain that party's ballot, vote, and then change back to undeclared status upon leaving. If the voter did not change back to undeclared, they would remain a member of the party they voted for.
When asked about concerns regarding potential election fraud claims, especially in light of previous claims by former President Donald Trump, Scanlon acknowledged the concerns but expressed confidence in New Hampshire's transparent and observable election process. He emphasized the importance of providing proof and evidence when making such claims, particularly given that only a small number of cases involving inappropriate voting had been identified and prosecuted in previous elections.
The discussion also touched on a recent robo-call impersonating President Biden that urged residents not to vote. Scanlon confirmed that an investigation was underway, as such actions constituted voter suppression. He further acknowledged the challenge faced by secretaries of state across the country as artificial intelligence capabilities enable the creation of fake phone calls that mimic candidates' voices.
As the primary election in New Hampshire unfolded, Secretary of State David Scanlon provided valuable insights into the turnout, ballot counting process, voter eligibility, and addressed concerns related to potential election fraud and voter suppression. The primary results are eagerly awaited to determine the outcomes of the Republican and Democratic races in the state.
