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 Preshow Return to index of stories... |
Next on New Hampshire Outlook. It's primary eve. Where have all the voters gone? We'll look at the trends. And redistricting, the changing landscape of New Hampshire politics. Plus creating ballots in Chad-free New Hampshire. |
| Hello Return to index of stories... |
Hello. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to NH Outlook. |
| Intro Vote Return to index of stories... |
According to a recent survey, fewer Americans participate in elections than every before. And by all indications that downward trend is not about to change. Outlook Correspondent Ben French has more. |
| Get Out the Vote Return to index of stories... |
NAT/SOT: We would like to have the largest turnout ever.so you vote here point to map. TRACK 1: Members of the Concord league of women voters are working hard to get people to the polls this year and they're using post 9/11 patriotism to do so. 'Patriots Vote' is one of many new 'get out the vote campaigns around the country trying to build on the patriotic outpouring after September 11. SOT: I hope it triggers people to think that patriotism is more than just flag waving. TRACK 2: John Fluerant came up with the 'Patriots Vote' campaign shortly after 9/11 and has passed the idea on to the Concord League of Women Voters. The League is just starting to get the campaign off the ground. SOT: So there's been an increase in talk for volunteerism and cmty support but there hasn't been talk about voting and what's more democratic than voting? Sot: there were some people who suggested right after 9/11 that we would see an upsurge in voter turnout TRACK 3: Thomas Patterson, Harvard professor and author of, 'The Vanishing Voter', says early signs of an upsurge have not been encouraging. SOT: well the first elections after 9/11- the off term elections of 2001 turnout fell in most communities around the country that held their elections **BUTT** my sense is if it does come up at all it will be just slightly TRACK 4: And, according to Patterson, it won't be enough to end the longest sustained voter turndown in US history. In the 1960 Presidential election- voter turnout was nearly sixty-five percent. In 2000, only fifty-one percent of US adults voted. SOT: it means it's a real challenge- one step at a time. I don't expect it's going to 100% this year but maybe if we can by a few percentage points and get to people to realize they should do it and it's an obligation. SOT: 17:36 I think we need those groups and they do make a difference but it will probably take a fundamental change in our politics before we see very high turnout rates. TRACK 5: After an exhaustive voter survey Patterson concludes lower income Americans are staying away from politics. SOT: 21:12A lot of newer issues are very much middle class issues. Candidate centered politics is a politics of money and they don't have much money so they're not major contributors to campaigns- their issues therefore don't loom as large in the campaign. TRACK 6: Patterson says another reason for the downtown is generational replacement. He says younger Americans don't have the same drive to vote as older generations shaped by historic calls to action. SOT: 13:29 BenIn your book you talk about the civic minded American- how their numbers are dwindling. What has happened to the civic minded American? 13:38 well some of it I think is just social change I mean civic mindedness in part is a response to events. And when you have these very large events that mobilize the public - the great depression , WWII, the Vietnam War for a period in the 1960's and early 1970's - you know people step into the arena and when they step in its not like when its over they turn their backs on it it has a lingering effect and it effects then how they behave later in life. For years our wars have been fought overseas and now we have this right here on our shores. TRACK 8: But Patterson believes it will take more than a national tragedy like 9/11 to empower generations X and Y to vote. SOT: It's not like Pearl Harbor in the sense that we're not being asked to grow victory gardens, we're not being asked to be drafted or enlisted. Increasingly these things are done by professionals. ***BUTT*** Where's the call for citizens here? Unless we can figure out how to bring citizens into the arena and have them do meaningful things, if their simply going to be spectators to what professionals are doing then I think its going to be hard to sustain this. ***BUTT*** We're asked to vote, we're asked to send a check, what else? and it might be that without that what else its not going to sustain that involvement over a long period of time. 16:36OUT TRACK 9: Some changes Patterson suggests are shorter campaign periods, less mudslinging and more accountability from the media. SOT: 4:13 Over the past 30 years the media have become more sensational, more critical and often their targets have been political leaders and institutions. **BUTT** 4:40 When the public looks at politics they think its less attractive then they would like it to be and that's a disincentive to participation. TRACK 10: For Patterson it will take big steps to bring about change in the electoral system. For John Fluerant and these other volunteers, change is achieved one vote at a time. SOT: My goal would be that it would be a natural function. You renew your drivers licence, you pay your taxes and you vote. TAG 11:In Concord, IBFFNO. |
| Tag Vote Return to index of stories... |
For information on the Vanishing Voter Project. You can log onto Vanishing Voter - dot- org. |
| Intro Redistricting Return to index of stories... |
Many candidates running for the state house and senate are facing a special challenge in Tuesday's primary election. That's because redistricting, which takes place every ten years after the census, has changed the political landscape. Producer Richard Ager takes a look at how the shifting political boundaries are affecting this year's elections. |
| Redistricting Return to index of stories... |
Soundup: Sapareto campaigns tape 4 04:18:22 *** nice sequence - comes down driveway and takes off running down road to next house. Track: Frank Sapareto is running for the Republican nomination in Senate District 19. Literally. Soundup: Sapareto campaigns tape 4 04;25:00 ** I hope you consider me at the polls on Sept. 10." Track: So far, he estimates he has visited at least 2000 Republican homes. Soundup: Sapareto campaigns tape 4 04:19:34 **"Gonna do 100 a day, you gotta go fast." Track: It's not an easy task - not only because voters can be hard to reach…. Soundup: Sapareto campaigns tape 4 04:14:50 *** rings bell - pan to barking dog in upstairs window - then pans down Track: …but also because Sapareto is running against a well-established opponent. soundup: Klemm/buggy tape 07;01:50 "Good evening, I'm Arthur Klemm, president of the NH state senate. YES I KNOW. Track: .Of course, Klemm faces his own set of challenges - thanks to redistricting. Standup: Klemm campaigns tape 2 02;27:27 With a population of about 35,000, Derry is home to the majority of voters in District 19. It is also a place where Arthur Klemm has never been on the ballot. Track/Graphic: That's because the old district 19 comprised Pelham, Salem, Atkinson and Windham - Klemm's hometown. The new district 19 comprises Windham, Hampstead and Derry - Sapareto's hometown. Soundup: Legislature 5/22/02 tape 1 10:43;55 And Mr. Speaker, if you believe as I believe this may be our last opportunity to do anything within our control, would you now vote yes to override the governor's veto. Track: In May, Republicans in the House and Senate failed to override the governor's veto of their redistricting plans. Soundup: Legislature 5/22/02 tape 1 11:19:31 "12 to 11." Bite: Legislature 5/22/02 tape 2 12:34:05 We need to continue to talk. Track: For others, patience was not a virtue. Bite; Legislature 5/22/02 tape 3 12:55:57 For me, I don't care where the districts fall. I'm just determined to go to the senate. I've got a message - I have a way to fix the problem, I know how to do it. Track: The deadlines passed, the state Supreme court intervened and drew up its own redistricting plans. And if you thought District 19 was drastically altered… Bite: Bill Gardner tape 03:03:57 We have one senator - incumbent - in the northern part of the state that has a couple of towns from his former district in the new district and almost 20 new towns that the person has never campaigned in before. Track: But the biggest overall change is in the House districts, which have grown in size and reduced in number from nearly 200 to just 88. Bite: Bill Gardner tape 03:01:40 …instead of a person running in a 1 or 2 member district, most representatives are in districts of 5 members all the way up to 14 members. And that means they have to spend money for the first time. I've heard incumbent members of the house saying they are going out and spending time in towns where they've never campaigned before. They've had to do mailings and put out ads because they're in districts they've never competed in before, and a lot of them have contests that they have not had before. So the main thing at the mid part of the ballot is the change in the size of the area you have to campaign in. NEW BITE: Sapareto tape 3 04:04:45 WHAT'S THE MOMENT YOU'RE PROUDEST OF IN THE LEGISLATURE? Personally, for me, one of the proudest moments was when we passed the pledge of allegiance bill. After two committee votes to kill it. NEW BITE: OL#53 01:48:39 I was very surprised to find that there are 40% of the schools in this state that do not say the Pledge of Allegiance and are not giving it their best. That's why I submitted this bill. Soundup: Sapareto campaigns tape 2 02;04:48 There are an awful lot of sheep up there. Track: In his 3 terms as a state rep, Frank Sapareto has been critical of the legislature's inability to come up with a solution to the education funding dilemma. Last year, he proposed having all residents pay their statewide property tax directly to the state. Bite: OL#14 00:32:55 NOW WHY ARE YOU TAKING THE TOWNS, WHICH HAVE ALWAYS COLLECTED PROPERTY TAXES, OUT OF THE FORMULA? Every one of our state taxes is collected by the state, with the exception of the property tax. It's because of the perception of collecting it locally that we have this rift and animosity between donor and receiver towns. If I can just show you - things like this - "Sunapee won't pay NH Tax installment" - we'll eliminate things like that because the towns won't have that money. Track: That bill didn't pass, but Sapareto, who is also a financial planner, has revived that plan. Bite: Sapareto tape 2 02;13:23 "Being a property owner, I'm curious to know your views on providing some relief on property tax." "That's exactly my area. We can fix the property tax and we can do it without an income tax, we can do it without a sales tax. If we put an income component in the property that says no one is going to pay more than 6,8 or 10% of their income on their property taxes, through an abatement process that you can file when you make the payment, then we can alleviate the worst part of the property tax for those people who can't afford to pay it. Video: Klemm tape 1 01:00:30 Klemm serves up some meals Soundup: Klemm tape 1 01;01;00 "service with a smile" "That's it." Track: After 14 years in the legislature, Arthur Klemm says he focuses on being fiscally conservative while also supporting programs like Meals on Wheels. Bite: Klemm campaigns tape 1 01;06:33 ** It's going to save the state of NH a lot of money, because by being able to stay home - and we'll be able to bring the services to you. It'll make your quality of life that much better. Track: Klemm says to solve education funding, the legislature must first focus on education. Bite: Klemm campaigns tape 1 01:17;42 I think we need to go back to the very basics. We haven't - the legislature still hasn't defined what the essential elements of an adequate education are. I think we made an attempt last year and we were making very good progress, and we just ran out of time. And I want to go back to that in January and I think we need to take our teachers, and pay their salaries and benefits, I think we need to pay 100% of the cost of special education, we need to provide continuing education for our teachers. Our teachers are our assets - they are the ones who are working with our children. Track: Klemm would target education to the neediest communities, and to do so…. Bite: Klemm campaigns tape 1 01;24:22 ** There will be a constitutional amendment required. I think we need to do that, because the legislature needs some flexibility to fix this problem. Bite: Klemm campaigns tape 2 02:21:52 I want to say thank you for standing up for us on our retirement, making sure we have a stable and secure pension system. Track: Endorsements like this one from the Firefighters Association are a reward for past votes, and Arthur Klemm says his opponent has some votes to explain. Bite: Klemm campaigns 2 02;06:15 I'm totally against an income tax. My opponent has voted for an income tax twice. Track: But Sapareto says those votes happened in 1999, when the legislature was facing a court-imposed deadline for finding a school funding solution. Bite: Sapareto tape 1 01;26:34 ….and they forced that vote and myself and another 50 legislators were forced to choose between an income tax or shutting the schools down. And that was wrong. Leadership pushed people to that point. Track: However this race turns out, one thing seems clear. Redistricting has made it more expensive to run…. Bite: Sapareto tape 2 02;18:50 The senate position I'm going for pays $100 a year, and I'm spending about $60,000 of my own money to get there. Track: …and with the Republican House leadership on record as considering redistricting again next session… Bite: Bill Gardner tape: 03:11:20 - my only request would that if they're going to do that, they do it early, rather than late. Soundup: Sapareto tape 4 04:19;47 ** "This ought to be a tough one. It says no solicitors." Track: For NH Outlook, I'm Richard Ager. Soundup: Klemm tape 1 01:10:38 ** "What are you, a Republican?" "I'm a Republican." "I'm a Democrat." |
| Intro Ballot Return to index of stories... |
The primary election may be Tuesday but the work that went into getting the ballots ready started months ago. And this year the whole process was even more complicated with the delays and changes caused by our redistricting process. For this story Chip Neal met with the Secretary of State on the shop floor of the printing company that prints all of the state's ballots. |
| The Ballot Return to index of stories... |
Chip Neal follows the ballot from inception to its demise. He speaks with the person responsible for the ballot in our elections, Secretary of State William Gardner. We learn that his office started back in early June planning for the election. And we learn that it is a very complicated process involving many combinations of names and placements all different for each town. We also spoke to the Dover City Clerk, Judy Gaouette, and learned what goes on behind the scenes after the polls close. They count the votes, many by hand, and then send the official results via state police to Concord. And finally, 90 days after the election the ballots can be destroyed. |
| Tag Ballot Return to index of stories... |
Just in case you thought you missed your chance to vote, we want to remind you that if you are 18 or over and UNregistered, you can still register to vote tomorrow. If you're registered to vote already, only Republicans or Democrats can vote in the Primary. So, if you are an undeclared voter, you can go to the polls, declare a party, vote the ballot of that party, and then change your affillitation back to undeclared. If you don't know where to find your polling place, contact your town hall. |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
On the next New Hampshire Outlook - Some races look to be nail biters. We'll have unofficial results analysis and reports from various campaign headquarters. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
That's it for this edition of our program. For all of us here at New Hampshire Public Television, I'm Ally McNair. Thanks for joining us. We'll see you next time on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| founders Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to our founding sponsors who have provided major funding for the production of New Hampshire Outlook: New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Public Service of New Hampshire Alice J. Reen Charitable Trust Putnam Foundation Stratford Foundation |
| WEB PROMO Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. Full primary coverage and reports from candidate headquarters. Tonight at 10pm on New Hampshire Public Television. |
| key: community politics / government Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time:9/09/02 / 2200 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 4:58 In addition to a summary of the day's top New Hampshire stories, this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, included a report on the downturn in voter turnout. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Ben French NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: John Fleurant\Creator of "Patriots Vote" Thomas Patterson\Harvard University\Author, "The Vanishing Voter" |
| key: state politics / government Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time:9/09/02 / 2200 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 8:02 In addition to a summary of the day's top New Hampshire stories, this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, included a report on the recent redistricting changes around the state. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Rep Mike Whalley\Deputy Speaker |
| Campaign Countdown Return to index of stories... |
Some polling places in New Hampshire will open as early as 6-30 in the morning for Tuesday's primary. And on this last full day of campaigning, candidates were making themselves as visible as possible, in hopes of winning over undecided voters. Republican candidate for Governor - Gordon Humphrey was out in Manchester. Humphrey is runnning against Craig Benson and Bruce Keogh in the republican primary. Incumbent Senator Bob Smith also started his morning in Manchester. Smith is facing a challenge from fellow Republican congressman John E. Sununu. The congressman was seen downtown Manchester riding a Segway. . |
| Tonight 10:00 Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. Getting out the vote, the challenges of campaigning in newly drawn districts and balloting in "chad free" New Hampshire. Join us tonight at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| News Briefs Return to index of stories... |
Finally, here's a brief look at the news. |
| Campaigning Return to index of stories... |
AP-NH--Campaign Rdp Candidates press for undecided voters -- candidates are spending the day trying to win over as many undecided voters as they can before tomorrow's primary. Republican candidates in two of the closest and most negative races -- for U.S. Senate and governor -- turned to personal appeals. U.S. Senator Bob Smith told a man at a Manchester restaurant the race boils down to whether he's done a good job. The unidentified man said Smith had his vote. But 84-year-old Seth Heywood of Merrimack said Smith "just doesn't seem to have the same feel for his constituents that he used to have." Heywood said Congressman John Sununu has run "a cleaner campaign." In the gubernatorial race, Republican Gordon Humphrey spent most of the day doing radio call-in programs. Rivals Craig Benson and Bruce Keough also spent their day on the telephone and meeting potential supporters. |
| Water Bottling Return to index of stories... |
AP-NH--Water Bottling, TOPS State says some fears about water bottling plant unfounded hmrdov XX clarifies 2nd graf to show company wants to take 500,000 gallons a day XX -- The attorney general's office is trying to ease fears that a water bottling company could use international trade rules to circumvent state environmental guidelines. Residents of Barrington and Nottingham have been up in arms since USA Springs Incorporated proposed drawing nearly 500-thousand gallons of water daily from a site in their towns. They worry that if the company exports the water, it would use trade agreements to ignore any restrictions the state imposes. But assistant attorney general Richard Head says if the state gives the company permission to go ahead, international trade rules won't be an issue. He says some companies have used the rules to contest government takeovers of their businesses, but he doesn't think the state would have any trouble enforcing its rules. The company has not indicted any plans to export its products. |
| West Nile Virus Return to index of stories... |
The West Nile virus has shown up in four more New Hampshire communities. State officials say dead birds in Portsmouth, Derry, Hopkinton, and Winchester have tested positive for the virus. The virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. The risk to humans is low, and in most cases there are only mild flu-like symptoms, though the virus can be fatal. |