New Hampshire
New Hampshire poll workers worried about safety before Election Day,
DERRY, N.H. – There’s just over a week until Election Day and officials in New Hampshire are not only under added pressure to ensure a fair and safe process, they’re also struggling to find people willing to work as poll workers.
“We’re putting the test ballots through the machine, we do have to put them through four times,” said Derry Town Clerk Tina Guilford.
“We’re here to do our jobs”
It’s the kind of safeguards she said are built into the election process. Test ballots in eight machines are inserted several times, the numbers between the machines have to match. The machine head is then sealed until Election Day and Guilford said she’s feeling more scrutiny than ever before.
“We’re not here to play partisan politics, we’re here to do our jobs,” said Guilford.
Doing the job hasn’t been easy and Guilford said it’s even a struggle to get poll workers to work on election night.
“A lot of people have told me that they’ve worked elections in the past and they’re just not interested because of the environment because they call it toxic,” said Guilford.
Political tensions are high since former President Donald Trump lost re-election in 2020 and claimed the election was stolen. It’s cast suspicion on election workers and Guilford has felt it.
“I’ve been called a communist, fascist, not pleasant,” said Guilford. “They’re unhappy and they’re taking it out on the person they can get a hold of.”
Pledging transparency
At Manchester City Hall, the line was nearly out the door Friday with voters registering. There’s high interest in an election that has also prompted calls to Elections Manager Thomas Hilton, who said he can only pledge transparency.
“I understand where these people are coming from, that it’s their process,” said Hilton. “I think people are concerned, they want to know their vote is counting, as it should be. And so, I completely respect that and I’m glad that we can answer those questions for those people.”
Newly trained poll worker Jim Dietzel said he wants to be part of the process.
“If I, as a regular citizen, who’s not an insider, can go out and tell the public no, everything is really on the up and up here, I think it gives people a lot of confidence,” said Dietzel.
There’s no early voting in New Hampshire, just absentee ballots, so Election Day is expected to be particularly busy.
CONCORD, NH — From all of us to all of you, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Holidays.
We hope you have a great time with family and friends during this joyous time of the year.
Unlike last year, when it was kinda dreary due to not having any snow, there is a little bit on the ground this year, thankfully. It’s incredible how something as simple as a little white stuff on the ground can make the mood festive.
If you need some posts and videos to get into the holiday spirit, check out some of the ones I put together this season:
Also Read
The Concord Nativity scene outside the Statehouse on Christmas Eve 2024. Credit: Tony Schinella
This year, I ran out of time and did not get to put together a Christmas lights video. I ran out of time last year, too. However, I’ll make a mental note to do one in 2025; it’s work to put together, but they are a lot of fun.
If you haven’t seen the prior videos, check them out here:
Christmas Lights in Concord 2022:
Christmas Lights in Concord 2021:
Christmas Lights in Concord 2020, Part 1:
Christmas Lights in Concord 2020, Part 2:
I’ll have a few “Best Of” posts next week, and we can then welcome in the New Year.
Until then, stay safe and enjoy your time with your family and friends.
Got a news tip? Could you send it to tony.schinella@patch.com? View videos on Tony Schinella’s YouTube.com channel or Rumble.com channel.
Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, begins. Here's the history
Next Weather Forecast 12-25-24
St. Anthony's Foundation serves Christmas Day meals in San Francisco
Here is everything you need to know for Sunday’s Cowboys and Eagles game
Warehouse on fire in Miami
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
Why Marjorie Taylor Greene was ‘kicked out’ of the Freedom Caucus according to Rep. Buck
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
Marjorie Taylor Greene wants death penalty for migrant who allegedly set woman on fire on subway: 'Finish him'
Who is Europe's top investor in space in 2023?
American Airlines lifts ground stop that froze Christmas Eve travelers
It's official: Biden signs new law, designates bald eagle as 'national bird'
Passenger plane crashes in Kazakhstan: Emergencies ministry
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24924653/236780_Google_AntiTrust_Trial_Custom_Art_CVirginia__0003_1.png "Google’s counteroffer to the government trying to break it up is unbundling Android apps")
Technology5 days agoGoogle’s counteroffer to the government trying to break it up is unbundling Android apps
-
News6 days agoNovo Nordisk shares tumble as weight-loss drug trial data disappoints
-
Politics6 days agoIllegal immigrant sexually abused child in the U.S. after being removed from the country five times
-
Entertainment6 days ago'It's a little holiday gift': Inside the Weeknd's free Santa Monica show for his biggest fans
-
Lifestyle6 days agoThink you can't dance? Get up and try these tips in our comic. We dare you!
-
Technology1 week agoFox News AI Newsletter: OpenAI responds to Elon Musk's lawsuit
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25672934/Metaphor_Key_Art_Horizontal.png "There’s a reason Metaphor: ReFantanzio’s battle music sounds as cool as it does")
Technology1 day agoThere’s a reason Metaphor: ReFantanzio’s battle music sounds as cool as it does
-
News2 days agoFrance’s new premier selects Eric Lombard as finance minister