Secretary of State

David Scanlan

New Hampshire’s new secretary of state, David Scanlan, says, ‘My time in office is really going to carry on a lot of the same duties and functions and practices’ of predecessor, long-serving Secretary Bill Gardner. (Julie Furukawa/NH Public Radio)

For the first time in 40 years, New Hampshire has a new Secretary of State. David Scanlan stepped into the position following the retirement of Bill Gardner earlier this month. Scanlan previously served as Deputy Secretary of State for 20 years, working with Gardner to run the office that oversees everything from elections, to securities markets and risk pools, and keeps the state’s vital records.

Q. How will your time in office be different from that of your predecessor?

A. My time in office is really going to carry on a lot of the same duties and functions and practices that Secretary Gardner had in place. My focus is going to be on continuing that, and in terms of elections, I want to take some steps to try and restore faith that voters have in the outcome of the election process.

Q. How are you going to do that?

A. Well, No. 1, we’re going to be as transparent as possible in all aspects. Our process already is very transparent. But what most people don’t realize is that conducting an election is a very long process. It’s actually starting now. So we want to make sure that all the voters understand the entire process of an election, and we’re going to be very forthcoming on how that process works.

Q. Republican lawmakers recently introduced legislation that would make new voters and those who lack required ID use a separate class of ballot, and they would have their votes tossed out if they don’t follow up with the right kind of paperwork. The bill’s sponsor said he worked with you to craft this legislation. Could you tell us what problem you think this law would solve?

A. My understanding of what is being proposed now, and it is something that we have worked on with a sponsor, is that a voter … that has not proven their qualifications beyond simply signing an affidavit would be able to go ahead and cast their ballot. But that ballot would be numbered similar to a challenged absentee ballot, where if the voter does not come back after the election is over with their proper qualifications, then that ballot that they cast could be retrieved and the votes are subtracted from the overall count. It is a form of provisional ballot, which is used in almost every other state in the country.

It gets back to the fact that over the last three or four election cycles, we have seen a significant decline in the confidence that voters have in the outcome of the elections. And that’s a serious problem because if that continues, then we should expect to see our voter participation rates drop because of that lack of confidence. And it is important that we restore the integrity of the process that people have faith in.

Q. Do you believe there is a rational basis for the belief that the elections here in New Hampshire lack integrity?

A. I don’t see a factual basis to dispute the elections that take place in New Hampshire, but part of the problem is that the rhetoric we’re seeing at the national level, actually from both parties and just general perceptions and beliefs that are out there that haven’t been adequately countered with the facts.

Q. How do you plan to support local election officials who have often been at the receiving end of pushback, aggression, attacks around election integrity?

A. It’s unfair to those local election officials. They do their best to do a good job.

It’s a civic engagement activity on their part. They do it because it’s important. They’re not looking for any rewards, and they’re just trying to do their job. So, my hope would be that any voter going to a polling place would treat those individuals with a great deal of respect.

Q. Is there anything the Secretary of State’s office can do besides hope that voters behave themselves?

A. We do fairly extensive training for local election officials, and part of that training is helping them to deal with difficult individuals. They do a great job dealing with those situations. But we plan to enhance the training opportunities for local election officials, not only in that area but in all aspects of the election process.

Q. You’re in this position now following the retirement of former Secretary of State Bill Gardner. Do you have plans to run for the position at the end of the year?

A. Yes, I definitely plan to run.

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