New HampshireDepartment of JusticeOffice of the Attorney General
News Release
For Immediate Release
January 8, 2024
Contact:
Michael S. Garrity, Director of Communications
michael.s.garrity@doj.nh.gov | (603) 931-9375
Brendan O’Donnell, Assistant Attorney General
Election Law Unit
Brendan.ODonnell@doj.nh.gov | (603) 271-1269
Unlawful Voter Suppression Cease-and-Desist Order
Concord, NH – On January 8, 2024, New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella issued a cease-and-desist order to the National Democratic Committee (“NDC”) Rules & Bylaws Committee (“RBC”) related to a January 5, 2024, letter the RBC sent to the New Hampshire Democratic Party (“NHDP”). In this letter, the RBC stated that it had previously instructed the NHDP to “educate the public” that the upcoming January 23, 2024, New Hampshire democratic Presidential Primary Election is “meaningless.”
The New Hampshire Secretary of State scheduled the New Hampshire democratic Presidential Primary Election for January 23, 2024, to precede the “date on which any other state shall hold a similar election,” as required by State law. RSA 653:9.
Regardless of whether the DNC refuses to award delegates to the party’s national convention based on the results of the January 23, 2024, New Hampshire democratic Presidential Primary Election, this New Hampshire election is not “meaningless.” RBC’s statements to the contrary are false, deceptive, and misleading. Telling any person qualified to register to vote or vote in New Hampshire that the January 23, 2024, New Hampshire democratic Presidential Primary Election is “meaningless,” or soliciting NHDP or any other party to make such statements, constitutes an attempt to prevent or deter New Hampshire voters from participating in the January 23, 2024, New Hampshire democratic Presidential Primary Election, in violation of RSA 659:40, III.
The Attorney General’s Office ordered the RBC to immediately cease and desist from engaging in any conduct that violates RSA 659:40, III, RSA 629:2, or any other State election law, including but not limited to repeating false, deceptive, or misleading statements that the January 23, 2024, New Hampshire democratic Presidential Primary Election is “meaningless.”
The Attorney General’s Office’s review of the RBC’s actions remains open.
Click here for the full letter from the Attorney General's Office to the RBC. 
Portable Document Format (.pdf). Visit nh.gov for a list of free .pdf readers for a variety of operating systems.
New Hampshire Department of Justice
1 Granite Place South | Concord, NH | 03301
Telephone: 603-271-3658