CONCORD, NH ( Associated Press) – A former Trump administration official running for Congress in New Hampshire did not violate state law by voting twice during the 2016 primary election season, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office said Thursday. Said whether the federal law was broken or not.
The Associated Press reported in April that Matt Mavers cast ballots in both the New Hampshire presidential primary and the New Jersey primary four months later, on February 9, 2016. Legal experts said the mowers may have violated federal law that prohibits “voting more than once” in “any general, special or primary election”. This includes voting “for election to the same candidacy or office” in different jurisdictions.
article though Not charged with a violation of state law, the attorney general’s office conducted an investigation based on reports and complaints from voters. After reviewing the mowers’ voting history, rental and property records, driver’s license documents and other material, it was concluded that they did not violate New Hampshire’s law against double voting.
That law prohibits voting in another state in the same election year “where one or more federal or statewide offices or statewide questions are listed.” The office concluded that the two primaries were elections within the definition of the law, but noted that the law specifically provides a “safe harbor” if the elections are held on different days and one person is in another state between the two dates. He goes away.
“Since we are not authorized to enforce New Jersey or federal law, we take no position on whether your conduct was in compliance with New Jersey or federal law,” counsels the deputy general of the attorney general’s office. Miles Matson wrote Movers.
Mowers is a leading candidate for the GOP nomination in New Hampshire’s First Congressional District, although the race is yet to be decided as the state has yet to complete its redistribution process and finalize the Congressional map. He was the nominee in 2020, but lost to Democratic incumbent Representative Chris Pappas.
In a statement Friday, Movers said the investigation reaffirmed his belief that the case was nothing more than “a partisan witch hunt” coordinated by Democrats and their primary opponents.
“After the report ends, this case is closed. I look forward to continuing campaigning across the district and restoring New Hampshire’s voice in Congress.”
His campaign also provided a statement from former US Attorney Thomas Colantuono, who said that in his opinion, no federal law had been broken.
Even if he violated federal law, there is little chance that Mowers could face prosecution. According to the national convention of state legislatures tracking the issue, the statute of limitations has expired, and there is no record of anyone being prosecuted under this specific section of federal election law.
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