New Hampshire ranked below average for elections administration

According to the Pew Charitable Trusts, New Hampshire ranks below average in the administration of elections. 

The Elections Performance Index scored states on seventeen indicators, such as the percentage of mail in ballots rejected, voter turnout, and whether the state requires a post-election audit of voting equipment. New Hampshire ranked 30th overall based on data from the 2014 elections.

New Hampshire scored particularly poorly on four indicators: the percentage of military and overseas ballots rejected (8%), online voter registration (New Hampshire does not offer this), postelection audit requirements (New Hampshire does not require this), and voting wait time (5.2 minutes).

New Hampshire scored very well on the percentage of voters reporting registration or absentee ballot problems (2%) and voter turnout (48%).

North Dakota ranked first in the nation, and Alabama came in last. RhodeIsland was the only New England state ranked lower than New Hampshire.

Critics of the ranking might note that online voter registration and postelection audits are policy choices with their own pros and cons, and it is unfair to include them in a ranking of election performance. Other critics of the ranking might point out that the methodology did not consider mechanisms to prevent voter fraud, such as voter ID laws.

How would you rank New Hampshire’s election administration? Let us know in the comments.

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