Spoiler alert, the majority won’t like it . . .
Back in 1784, when the New Hampshire State Constitution was being drafted, they came up with Article 14:
Representatives, How Elected, Qualifications of.
Every member of the house of representatives shall be chosen by ballot; and, for two years, at least, next preceding his election shall have been an inhabitant of this state; shall be, at the time of his election, an inhabitant of the town, ward, place, or district he may be chosen to represent and shall cease to represent such town, ward, place, or district immediately on his ceasing to be qualified as aforesaid. June 2, 1784
Amended 1852 deleting provision for representatives to have an estate of 100 pounds.
Amended 1877 deleting requirement that representatives be Protestants.
Amended 1956 substituting "ward" for "parish."
Amended 1964 adding word "district."
Seems to be pretty cut and dried and to have been working just fine, including the amendments, for the last couple centuries.
But something changed over the last two decades. NH has become inundated with the extremist groups, Free Staters and Liberty Alliance. The following is an excerpt taken from “Who are the Free Staters” by former State Senator Jeanne Dietsch: “Political-science grad student Jason Sorens founded the Free State Project based on his undergraduate study of philosophy and theory of libertarian economics.” and “What I propose is a Free State Project, in which freedom-minded people . . .pledge that you will work to reducing government to the minimal functions of protecting life, liberty and property, establish residence in a small state and take over the state government . . .Once we’ve taken over the state government, we can slash state and local budgets. . .” (Jason Sorens, July 23, 2001) and “In NH, the Free State Project and the plutocrats now work jointly, openly.” (emphasis added)
And that’s what they’ve been doing ever since.
Recently, Rep. Michael Cahill has introduced legislation to slow down the “take over of state government.” HB 1257 aims to “require candidates for the offices of state representative and state senator live in the district for which they seek election for at least 2 years.” (emphasis added)
The House should be getting this bill in a few weeks, but in the meantime, if you would like to show support for it, contact your representative here: New Hampshire House of Representatives
Scroll down to “Who’s my legislator?” and find yours. Email info is included there.
“Democracy is not something we have. It is something we do.”
-Granny D