NH May Vote To Repeal Marriage

A New Hampshire state representative is working to bring marriage equality to the voting population, despite the law legalizing same-sex marriage going into effect last Saturday.

Rep. David Bates, a Republican representing the Windham area, said he hopes that voters will be able to make their feelings on the marriage issue known on March 9 during the upcoming town meeting vote.

"This is in response to the law which took effect Jan. 1 that redefined marriage to include homosexual relationships," he wrote in an e-mailed announcement to supporters. "The question voters will be asked on March 9 is intended to determine the will of the New Hampshire voters concerning the marriage debate."

In addition to a vote in March, three Republican members have proposed a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, according to the Union-Leader newspaper. The constitutional amendment would have to be passed by three fifths of the legislature and then two thirds of the popular vote.

"People should not seek to impose their personal religious views on others and should not spend taxpayers' money doing so," Mo Baxley, director of N.H. Freedom to Marry, told the Union-Leader. "It certainly doesn't change anything. Couples are married. They're going to stay married and I think there are probably better things for folks to focus on."

According to the newspaper, New Hampshire does not allow for statewide ballot initiatives, but voters can bring issues to town meetings for consideration. At those meetings, it takes just 25 registered voters to successfully petition for an issue to be vetted by attendees.