The bill, which combined two different measures from the state House and Senate, was approved Wednesday by a margin of 255-103, according to the New Hampshire Union Leader. Lynch has threatened to veto the voter ID measure, but the margin of passage was large enough to override a veto if Lynch decides to push the issue and lawmakers don’t change their votes. story here.
Despite negotiations and concessions by both parties and local election officials, a compromise was found. In the end though, the Democratic Governor simply can’t bring himself to sign a voter integrity measure of any sort.
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New Hampshire lawmakers pass voter ID bill with veto-proof margin
The bill, which combined two different measures from the state House and Senate, was approved Wednesday by a margin of 255-103, according to the New Hampshire Union Leader. Lynch has threatened to veto the voter ID measure, but the margin of passage was large enough to override a veto if Lynch decides to push the issue and lawmakers don’t change their votes. story here.
Despite negotiations and concessions by both parties and local election officials, a compromise was found. In the end though, the Democratic Governor simply can’t bring himself to sign a voter integrity measure of any sort.
NH Constitution Gubernatorial Veto Clause: The photographic voter-ID bill shall become law under the provision specified below: Article XLIV (44). An appropriate and prudent interpretation of the gubernatorial veto clause consistent with judicial restraint under Part II, Article XLIV would obligate Governor John Lynch to assert his authority to veto the Photo Voter-ID bill within the fifth day (excluding Sundays) as the deadline prescribed by this clause, which is defined as Tuesday, June 13th, 2012. The next legislative session of the House of Representatives is June 27th at 10:00 AM. The next legislative session of the Senate is to be determined by the call of the chair. If Governor Lynch rejects the voter-ID bill, then the House of Representatives may convene on June 27th at 10:00AM to consider the gubernatorial veto message. The House of Representatives would vote to override Lynch’s Voter-ID veto by the requisite two-thirds vote. If the veto override is successful, then the Senate shall consider the gubernatorial veto message. The Senate would vote to override Lynch’s Voter-ID veto by the requisite two-thirds vote. The current composition of the 424-member NH Legislature is Republican: 311 Republicans to 109 Democrats or is 79% Republican and 21% Democratic. The Senate consists of 19 Republicans and Five Democrats or 78% Republican and 22% Democratic. The GOP Majority in the Senate is veto-proof. The House of Representatives consists of 292 Republicans and 104 Democrats or 74% Republican and 26% Democratic. The GOP Majority in the House of Representatives is veto-proof. A veto-proof majority is two-thirds or 67% of the total membership for the House of Representatives and Senate that is duly chosen and sworn. If the total membership of each chamber of the legislature votes two-thirds affirmatively to reverse an incurred gubernatorial veto to the proposed voter-ID legislation, then it becomes law pursuant to Part II, Article XLIV of the NH State Constitution.