About 30 people took part in the 16th annual Granny D walk in Dublin and Peterborough on Saturday.
The annual Granny D Walk commemorates the work of Dublin resident Doris “Granny D” Haddock, who walked across the United States at age 90 to advocate for campaign finance reform.
Walkers who completed the three-hour route from Cobb Hill Road in Dublin, near the site of Haddock’s longtime home, to Depot Square Park in Peterborough were welcomed by the annual Democracy Festival, sponsored by Open Democracy and the Peterborough Plus Unit of the League of Women Voters of NH.
Dana and Andy Plank of Antrim said it was their first time taking part in the walk.
“We’re just really happy to be part of it, and we certainly want to pay tribute to Granny D and be part of it as long as we can,” Dana Plank said.
“As long as we’re able,” said Andy Plank.
Sue Martin of Peterborough said she does the walk every year.
“It’s just very important to remember Granny D’s work and carry on her legacy,” Martin said.
Sarah Ortiz, voter education coordinator for Open Democracy, said the organization’s current focus is to encourage voters to confirm their voter registration status, as changes in voter laws have resulted in longtime registered NH voters being removed from the rolls without their knowledge.
“We work to strengthen democracy in New Hampshire by making sure everyone has access to the ballot, by removing big money from campaigns, and by working for fair districting,” Ortiz said. “Our big message right now is to tell people to check their voter registration, and ask their friends to check their voter registration. Even if you think you’re registered, just double-check before the primary on Sept. 8 and the national election on Nov. 3.”
Ortiz said she has met people across the state who have been shocked to learn they were no longer on voter rolls and had no idea why.
“We have met a lot of people who thought they were registered, and they were not,” Ortiz said. “The other day, at just two events in Nashua, we had a total of six people who told us they were registered, and when they scanned the QR code to check, they found out they were no longer registered — and that was just at two events.”
Ortiz said voter registrations can change for “various reasons,” sometimes simply by mistake.
“More election laws have changed in the past two years than in the previous 20 years, and the clerks and supervisors are struggling to keep up, and the state has done nothing to help,” said volunteer Deb Hatcher. “People should check now so they can be sure they have all their paperwork in place.”
Hatcher said there are valid reasons people can be removed that they may not be aware of, including a change of address or putting a home into a trust.
“Sometimes even if someone with a similar name to you dies, you might be taken off the rolls by accident,” Hatcher said. “We’re hearing that mistakes are happening.”
