Delaney
CONCORD, N.H. (Legal Newsline) - New Hampshire Attorney General Michael Delaney announced on Friday that his office has reached a $20,000 settlement with a research center that allegedly violated the state's push polling law.
Mountain West Research Center allegedly engaged in push polling by contacting 529 New Hampshire households between July 19-21 without providing the disclosures described in the statute.
"An essential element of our democracy is vigilant enforcement of New Hampshire's election laws," Delaney said.
"My office will continue to vigorously investigate election related complaints, and initiate civil or criminal enforcement actions against those who violate New Hampshire's election laws."
Once questions were raised about their activities, the company voluntarily halted the calls on July 21. Mountain West cooperated with Delaney's office throughout the matter.
While push polling is legal in New Hampshire, calls must inform those who answer who the telephone call is being made on behalf of or in support of, or if the calls are in opposition to a particular candidate for public office.
They must also identify that candidate by name and provide a telephone number from where the push polling is conducted.