Use this page to

  1. Learn about the mission of the Political Research Project at UNH
  2. Find out how to register to vote in New Hampshire
  3. See how New Hampshire’s commitment to state higher education has faltered
  4. See how YOUR representatives voted on UNH’s budget and other important bills
  5. Learn about the 3 ballot initiatives that you will be able to vote on this year
  6. Learn about NH's gubernatorial candidate's stances on higher education Facebook
  7. Download a printable and distributable version of this site
  8. Share with your friends and like us on Facebook

**Important Update**: For visitors to our website who have downloaded our voting record PDF detailing votes for HB-1, HB-334, and HB-437 prior to 11/4/2012 at 5:00 PM, please note that the list was erroneous in the recording of votes for HB-334 and HB-437 and SHOULD NOT be treated as correct or authoritative for any representative. Among two of the votes erroneously recorded were those of Rep. Phil Ginsburg of Durham, who supported the right of UNH and other institutions to ban guns and other weapons and opposed the repeal of marriage equality, contrary to the erroneous listing of his votes. The GSS sincerely apologizes for this error and any confusion it may have caused.
However, all the votes for HB-1 (FA 1261H) in the House and HB-1 in the Senate, have been verified and are accurate. If you have a flyer from us, or if you'd like to download our digital version off the website, rest assured that these votes are correct. If you would like to see who voted for and against HB-334 and HB-437, you can access this information through the official website of the state legislature at http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/

If you have any questions about this message, please write to Mike Verney, Chair of the GSS Political Research Project at mro378@wildcats.unh.edu.

Mission Statement

Over the last decade, the global financial collapse and significant economic contraction within the United States, has hurt all members of our national community. One group that has been hit the hardest during this time of deep recession has been college students. Part-time and summer jobs for college students can no longer keep up with increasing tuition costs and loan payments. It is now difficult to nearly impossible for UNH students to pay for school without accumulating astronomical debt. Combine this with the recent slash in funding from the NH state legislature (by nearly 50%), and you end up with a state where the students have the highest debt in the nation.

In response, the GSS has formed THE POLITICAL RESEARCH PROJECT @ UNH a non-partisan, non-candidate affiliated group of UNH students to:

  1. ADVOCATE for more state support for public higher education in New Hampshire and to

  2. EDUCATE the UNH community about how state politics matter for the vitality of UNH, the New Hampshire state economy, and family expenses.

Registering to Vote and Voting in NH

1) How to register to vote:

2) Voting on Election Day:

NH Higher Education Statistics

New Hampshire ranks DEAD LAST in the nation on funding for higher education.

graph1

Source: Illinois State University Center for Higher Education and Education Finance: Grapevine

College students who attend schools in New Hampshire accumulate the GREATEST AMOUNT OF STUDENT DEBT in the country.

graph2

Source: The Project on Student Debt: An Initiative of the Institute for College Access & Success

How Did Your Representative Vote?

This section is currently being updated to correct inaccuracies in the voting record.

Other Bills that Nearly Impacted YOUR Life at UNH:

HB 334 (2011), An act relative to the state’s authority to prohibit or regulate firearms, firearms components, ammunition, or firearms supplies.

  • Would have allowed all firearms on campus by revoking the right of the University to restrict guns on University property
  • Passed the House; Senate Judiciary Committee has commenced an interim study
  • Graduate Student Senate passed Res. 2011.7 in opposition.

HB 437 (2011), An act relative to the definition of marriage.

  • Tried to repeal same sex marriage in New Hampshire by defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman
  • House did not pass
  • GSS passed Res. 2012.5 in opposition

HB 1692-FN (2011), An act making changes to the administration of the University System of New Hampshire

  • Would have raised costs to UNH by eliminating many of the functions of the USNH System office and eliminated a student representative to the USNH Board of Trustees
  • Senate did not pass
  • GSS passed Res. 2012.1 in opposition

NH General Election: More Than Just Choosing Your Representatives

This election, New Hampshire voters will be asked these three questions in addition to selecting their chosen candidates. The first two questions address proposed amendments to the New Hampshire Constitution. The third question is Constitutionally mandated to be on the ballot at least every ten years.

  • Question 1 (proposed Constitutional Amendment): Should there be a Constitutional Amendment to ban an income tax in the state?
  • Question 2 (proposed Constitutional Amendment): Should court rulings or legislative statutes have legal priority?
  • Question 3: Should a convention be called to amend or revise NH's Constitution?

For more information on these important questions that you will be asked to answer on election day, please check out this 2012 Voter's Guide, provided by the NH Secretary of State's Office, which explains the importance, relevance, and impact of these questions and your answers.

Gubernatorial Candidates Stances on Higher Education Policy