New Hampshire lawmakers: make election security a priority with AVR

By TREY GRAYSON
We’re deep in the off season for New Hampshire legislators. Lawmakers won’t return to Concord for months. As state legislators set their goals and priorities for the next session, Automated Verification and Registration (AVR) should be at the top of their lists. It’s the perfect policy to begin a legislative session: It addresses a critical issue, it’s an easy policy to implement, it demonstrates responsibility, and it’s bipartisan.

Without secure voter rolls, other security improvements are only half measures. AVR ensures voter rolls are up to date, accurate, and reliable, helping to prevent both foreign interference and voter fraud.

AVR requires a one-time capital investment, and then saves money. It’s a one-time fix that improves services without costing taxpayers more money.

Republicans and Democrats in 20 states have already adopted AVR. New Hampshire should, too. Our lawmakers need to make AVR their top priority.

Trey Grayson, a Republican, is advisory board chair of the Secure Elections Project, former Kentucky secretary of state, and former President of the National Association of Secretaries of State.