Should Non Resident Tax Payers vote?

[Sue Doe-Nym]

Originally Posted by Skip

Although we've covered this subject in numerous threads, just a couple of quick corrections for anyone new.

There is no such thing in New Hampshire as a "6 months and a day" rule for residency. You can be a resident of NH and never spend a day here, as long as you call nowhere else home. You also can become a resident the day you move here, and vote on that same date.

Their is no denial of rights to a non-resident that owns property here but cannot vote here. The Courts have held that every citizen has a right to vote, but that right only extends to that person's place of residency. It has nothing to do with, or is tied to, land ownership.

And while I can appreciate and understand the angst of property tax paying non-residents I can pretty well assure them that nothing is going to change in reference to that in this State anytime soon. It has been this way for decades. Remember, while it is an obvious concern to waterfront property owners particularly in the Lakes region with several communities, it is not an issue in most of the rest of the State.

Finally it is interesting to me that down here on the seacoast we have many valuable homes as well, populating the ocean and many of the bays, rivers and inlets. Many of these homes are owned by non-residents and in a few communities they make up a great percentage of the tax base. However you do not here the protests down here like you do from some in the Lakes region.

Interesting.....I have an idea why but I will defer the speculation to others for now.

What is your idea, my speculating capabilities are very poor?

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by Sue Doe-Nym

What is your idea, my speculating capabilities are very poor?

I read it as your speculating powers are so great that he need not assist!

[RailroadJoe]

228 non residents of NH and 111 residents of NH Guess how they are voting?

[Argie's Wife]

Originally Posted by RailroadJoe

228 non residents of NH and 111 residents of NH Guess how they are voting?

In all of NH? Wow... I knew we had more trees than people but only 111 residents in NH?

[RailroadJoe]

Now, you know I'm talking about the forum members that have voted.

[Argie's Wife]

Originally Posted by RailroadJoe

Now, you know I'm talking about the forum members that have voted.

Now that you've explained it, I do.

Sorry but that's not a measurement of the number of resident voters and non-residents who wish to vote, but the number of respondents who answered "yes" or "no" when asked if non-resident tax payers should be allowed to vote.

There's 5361 registered members on the forum. At this time, 230 posters responded with a yes vote, and 116 posters have responded with a no vote. The combined number of respondents is less than 6.5% of the total registered members on this forum. In other words, it's not enough of a response on which you can base any trend at this point.

I would also wager that if this same poll had been posted in the winter months, when we have fewer seasonal posters active in the forum that your poll results would be quite different.

[RI Swamp Yankee]

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

... There's 5361 registered members on the forum. At this time, 230 posters responded with a yes vote, and 116 posters have responded with a no vote. ....

Since I don't own property there I did not vote in the poll.