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59000beans t1_it9y09d wrote

https://ballotpedia.org/New_Hampshire_Abolish_Office_of_Register_of_Probate_Amendment_(2022)

A "yes" vote supports eliminating the register of probate offices and references to it within the New Hampshire Constitution. The ballot measure was sponsored by Rep. Norman Silber (R-2) and Rep. Aidan K. Ankarberg (R-10).

The Register of Probate is an elected office in some states. The office had previously handled wills, the administration of estates, trusts, guardianships, adoptions, and name changes.

After changes were made to New Hampshire's court system in 2011, certain duties were removed from the register of probate.

In the consolidation of July 2011, the number of probate courts was reduced from 117 to 54.

Argument to Vote No: “Feedback from many NH residents after encountering very limited assistance at the courthouse is that they have been advised to seek an attorney if they are unable to properly submit the necessary information. If we still had functioning registers of probate to help, most residents would not have to deal with attorneys and their associated legal fees."

Argument to Vote No: "In 2013, former Hillsborough County register of probate Joseph Kelly Levasseur filed a writ of prohibition with the state Supreme Court, saying that the transfer of duties from the register of probate was unconstitutional, due to the duties being transferred to an unelected position."

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Bianrox OP t1_itcbfyd wrote

Thank you, the arguments you provided really helped.

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RoadAdventures t1_itaayan wrote

The constitutional convention vote is required to happen every ten years, and will likely fail, since it failed by a mile last time and I know of nobody that is campaigning for or against it.

Even if it passed, any proposed changes would have to be approved by 60% or more of the New Hampshire voters.

The Register of Probate constitutional question eliminates an elected office that no longer has any duties or powers - all those duties have been transferred to different state agencies.

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overdoing_it t1_itadsqd wrote

> Even if it passed, any proposed changes would have to be approved by 60% or more of the New Hampshire voters.

That's why I think it should pass, just to see what comes up. Probably not much if any of that would pass, but it would be interesting.

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Final_Act6703 t1_it9g7d5 wrote

The one ballot measure is all about getting rid of a defunct public servant job. I think it is considered to be common sense and widely considered a safe yes vote.

The other vote is about whether or not to have a constitution convention to modify the state constitution. This question is automatically brought up every ten years by law. Last time this ballot measure failed- and it will probably fail again. Most people do not want the constitution changed by a group of politicians Willy nilly. Changes to the constitution can be proposed and voted for individually, which seems to be everyone’s preference.

As a side note, last year many of our Republican legislators tried to change the constitution of our state to allow tax dollars to fund religious schools.

https://indepthnh.org/2021/03/04/change-sought-in-nh-constitution-to-barring-religious-school-funding/

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smartest_kobold t1_it9n05d wrote

The county register of probate vote probably doesn't matter that much either way.

Vote for a constitutional convention if you want to let the clowns in the statehouse to change how the circus runs.

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Savage-Sauce t1_itsd8gn wrote

Be careful what you wish for. This can cut both ways.

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Senno_Ecto_Gammat t1_it9ccj6 wrote

Whether you want to vote yes or no depends on your own personal priorities and values.

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Bianrox OP t1_itcbo8f wrote

Correct, thanks to 59000 Beans for helping me understand how to vote for priorities and values

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mmirate t1_itacfes wrote

If you have the mental capacity of a 5-year-old, then why do you think you have the responsibility required to exercise the political authority inherent in voting?

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