NH AG: DNC involved in ‘illegal voter suppression’ before primaries
New Hampshire Attorney General Issues Cease-and-Desist Order to DNC
The office of New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella issued a cease-and-desist order to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) on Monday after the committee purportedly violated the state’s voter suppression laws.
On Jan. 5, the co-chairs of the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee submitted a letter to the New Hampshire Democratic Party (NHDP) demanding the state party comply with DNC guidance to “take steps to educate the public that January 23rd” — the date set for the jurisdiction’s Democrat presidential primary — “is a non-binding presidential preference event and is meaningless and the NHDP and presidential candidates should take all steps possible not to participate.”
The memo came nearly a year after the DNC passed a new early presidential primary calendar for 2024. The updated calendar, supported by President Biden, sought to make South Carolina the first state on the Democrat presidential primary schedule. While Iowa and New Hampshire, respectively, have historically marked the first electoral contests in the presidential primary process for both major political parties, the DNC’s decision to schedule South Carolina first was, as NBC News described, due to Iowa’s caucuses being viewed as “too white and too undemocratic.”
Despite state law mandating New Hampshire host a presidential primary “7 days or more immediately preceding the date on which any other state shall hold a similar election,” the DNC told the NHDP that the Jan. 23 primary scheduled by the New Hampshire secretary of state “cannot be used as the first determining stage of the state’s delegate selection process and is considered detrimental.” The guidance further informed the state party that no “delegates or alternates shall be apportioned” and no “scheduling of events related to the selection of delegates or alternates in New Hampshire may be” based on the Jan. 23 election.
In his cease-and-desist order to the DNC, Assistant Attorney General Brendan O’Donnell underscored how “[f]alsely telling New Hampshire voters that a New Hampshire election is ‘meaningless’ violates New Hampshire voter suppression laws,” and further ordered the organization to stop engaging in such “unlawful” conduct.
“Regardless of whether the DNC refuses to award delegates to the party’s national convention based on the results of the January 23, 2024, New Hampshire [D]emocratic Presidential Primary Election, that election is not ‘meaningless.’ Your statements to the contrary are false, deceptive, and misleading,” O’Donnell wrote. “Telling the public or any person qualified to register to vote or vote in New Hampshire that the [aforementioned election] is ‘meaningless,’ or soliciting NHDP or any other party to make such statements, constitutes an attempt to prevent or deter another person from voting or registering to vote based on fraudulent, deceptive, misleading, or spurious grounds or information.”
O’Donnell further warned the DNC that he reserved the right to pursue further legal action.
It’s worth mentioning that the DNC’s decision to hold South Carolina’s primary before the party’s Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary is designed to benefit Biden. During the 2020 Democrat presidential primary cycle, the Delaware Democrat lost both Iowa and New Hampshire, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively. It was his dominating victory in South Carolina’s primary that put Biden on track to become Democrats’ 2020 presidential nominee.
Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He previously served as a state content writer for Convention of States Action and his work has been featured in numerous outlets, including RealClearPolitics, RealClearHealth, and Conservative Review. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood
What are the consequences of disseminating false information about the significance of the New Hampshire primary?
Ote in New Hampshire that their vote for president in the New Hampshire primary of January 23, 2024, will not count and that the election is non-binding, or meaningless, is knowingly false, deceptive, and misleading.”
The cease-and-desist order serves as a stern response to the DNC’s attempt to diminish the significance of the New Hampshire primary. The state of New Hampshire takes its role as the first primary state seriously and has specific laws in place to ensure the democratic process operates fairly. By informing voters that their vote will not count, the DNC is effectively suppressing their right to participate in the electoral process.
The argument put forth by the DNC, that the Iowa caucuses are “too white and too undemocratic,” does not justify disregarding state laws and undermining the importance of the New Hampshire primary. It is essential to respect the democratic traditions of each state and allow voters to have their voices heard.
Assistant Attorney General O’Donnell’s cease-and-desist order emphasizes the unlawful nature of the DNC’s conduct and demands that they immediately cease disseminating false information to New Hampshire voters. The order rightly asserts that regardless of whether the DNC chooses to award delegates based on the results of the New Hampshire primary, the election holds significant value for the state and its voters.
The New Hampshire primary has long been recognized as a crucial step in the presidential nomination process. It provides an opportunity for candidates to engage with voters, understand their concerns, and shape their campaign strategies. Dismissing the primary as meaningless undermines the democratic principles upon which our nation is built.
The Office of the Attorney General is entrusted with preserving the integrity of New Hampshire’s elections and ensuring that voters are well-informed about their rights and the significance of their vote. By issuing the cease-and-desist order, Attorney General Formella and Assistant Attorney General O’Donnell are fulfilling their duty to protect the democratic process and the rights of New Hampshire voters.
It is crucial that the DNC respects the authority and laws of the states in which it operates. If there are concerns or disagreements regarding the primary schedule, they should be addressed through proper channels and respectful dialogue. Disregarding the laws of a state and attempting to suppress voter participation is antithetical to the principles of democracy.
As the 2024 presidential campaign progresses, it is imperative that all parties involved uphold the integrity of the electoral process. The New Hampshire primary serves as a fundamental step in this process, and attempts to undermine its importance should not be tolerated. The cease-and-desist order issued by Attorney General Formella serves as a reminder that voter suppression will not be tolerated in New Hampshire.
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