Joseph Barton

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026

Do you support the “Education Freedom Account” program, which gives students access to the per-pupil share of state school funding to spend on private school or home school expenses?

"I support Education Freedom Accounts because parents—not government bureaucracies—are best positioned to decide which educational setting will meet their child’s needs. EFAs give families greater access to tutoring, private schools, approved online programs, specialized services, and other educational options that may be unavailable in their assigned district. They are especially important for students who are struggling, being bullied, have disabilities, or need a different academic environment. The program must include strong eligibility rules, financial audits, transparent reporting, and penalties for misuse so that public funds are spent only on legitimate educational expenses. Properly administered, EFAs expand opportunity, increase accountability, and ensure that education funding serves the student rather than protecting a system that may not be working for that child."I support the 2nd amendment right to bear arms for law abiding citizens. I also support gun safety legislation that protects victims of domestic violence, that keeps guns out of schools, and ensures that violent felons and people with significant mental health issues and threaten to harm themselves or others do not have ready access to firearms."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026

Should New Hampshire’s anti-discrimination law allow segregation based on biological sex in some settings, such as bathrooms and locker rooms?

"I support a narrowly written New Hampshire bathroom bill that protects privacy and requires shared school restrooms and locker rooms to be separated according to biological sex. Girls should not be required to share intimate facilities with biological males, and biological boys should not be permitted in girls’ restrooms or locker rooms. For purposes of the law, biological sex should be based on objective reproductive biology, ordinarily reflected by XX chromosomes for females and XY chromosomes for males, while recognizing that rare medical conditions may require appropriate individual accommodations. Schools should provide reasonable single-user or private facilities for any student who needs additional privacy, without eliminating the sex-based protections that safeguard the dignity, safety, and privacy of all students."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026

Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the first trimester (e.g. after 6 weeks gestation)?

"I believe human life deserves protection and that abortion should never be treated as a routine form of birth control. In cases involving consensual sexual activity, abstinence is the only certain way to prevent an unwanted pregnancy, and personal responsibility must remain part of this discussion. At the same time, the law must recognize legitimate medical emergencies and include clear exceptions when a pregnancy threatens the life or serious physical health of the mother, is ectopic or otherwise nonviable, or involves a fatal fetal condition, while ensuring physicians can provide necessary care without fear of prosecution. My position is to protect unborn life, support mothers facing difficult pregnancies, expand adoption and prenatal resources, and enact laws that are compassionate, medically workable, and respectful of both life and individual circumstances."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026

Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the second trimester (e.g. after 15 weeks gestation)?

"I believe human life deserves protection and that abortion should never be treated as a routine form of birth control. In cases involving consensual sexual activity, abstinence is the only certain way to prevent an unwanted pregnancy, and personal responsibility must remain part of this discussion. At the same time, the law must recognize legitimate medical emergencies and include clear exceptions when a pregnancy threatens the life or serious physical health of the mother, is ectopic or otherwise nonviable, or involves a fatal fetal condition, while ensuring physicians can provide necessary care without fear of prosecution. My position is to protect unborn life, support mothers facing difficult pregnancies, expand adoption and prenatal resources, and enact laws that are compassionate, medically workable, and respectful of both life and individual circumstances."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026

Should NH add an income tax on earned income?

"I oppose a broad-based income tax because New Hampshire should not punish people for working, earning, and building a better life. An income tax would create a permanent new tax bureaucracy, give government greater access to residents’ personal finances, and inevitably invite higher rates and expanded spending in the future. Supporters may promise property-tax relief, but without firm spending controls, an income tax is far more likely to become an additional burden than a true replacement for existing taxes. New Hampshire’s lack of a broad-based income tax is a major competitive advantage that attracts families, workers, retirees, entrepreneurs, and employers. The answer to high property taxes is not another major tax; it is controlling spending, reducing unfunded mandates, cutting administrative waste, and demanding measurable results from government. I will vote against any broad-based or backdoor income tax and will fight to protect the New Hampshire Advantage.

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026

Should New Hampshire lower business taxes?

"I support reducing New Hampshire’s business taxes because lower rates encourage employers to invest, expand, hire, and raise wages here rather than in competing states. Businesses do not pay taxes in isolation—the cost is ultimately borne by workers, customers, and families through fewer jobs, lower wages, and higher prices. A responsible business-tax reduction, paired with disciplined state spending, will strengthen the New Hampshire Advantage, help small businesses compete, attract new employers, and broaden our economy. I will support tax policies that reward growth and job creation while ensuring government lives within its means."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026

Should the state do more to encourage municipalities to remove zoning barriers to housing development?

"I support reasonable local zoning reforms that allow New Hampshire communities to build more housing while preserving legitimate local control and neighborhood character. Excessive minimum lot sizes, rigid single-family-only zoning, unnecessary parking mandates, restrictions on duplexes and multifamily housing, burdensome special-exception procedures, density limits, lengthy permitting delays, and unreasonable barriers to accessory dwelling units can make otherwise practical housing projects impossible or unaffordable. New Hampshire should encourage municipalities to permit a broader range of housing by right where adequate roads, water, sewer, and public safety services exist, while still allowing communities to enforce objective standards for safety, infrastructure, and responsible development. The goal is not uncontrolled growth or eliminating zoning; it is removing artificial barriers that drive up housing costs, discourage private investment, and prevent working families, seniors, and young people from finding homes in the communities where they live and work."I support reducing New Hampshire’s business taxes because lower rates encourage employers to invest, expand, hire, and raise wages here rather than in competing states. Businesses do not pay taxes in isolation—the cost is ultimately borne by workers, customers, and families through fewer jobs, lower wages, and higher prices. A responsible business-tax reduction, paired with disciplined state spending, will strengthen the New Hampshire Advantage, help small businesses compete, attract new employers, and broaden our economy. I will support tax policies that reward growth and job creation while ensuring government lives within its means."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026

Should New Hampshire do more to encourage the development of nuclear power, including small modular reactors (SMR), in the state?

"I support developing small modular reactors in New Hampshire because reliable, carbon-free nuclear power can strengthen our energy independence, improve grid stability, and help reduce long-term electricity costs. I have a background in nuclear engineering and previously worked as a reactor engineer at a commercial nuclear power plant, so I understand both the technical promise of nuclear energy and the rigorous safety standards required to operate it responsibly. Small modular reactors can provide dependable, around-the-clock generation close to where electricity is needed, reducing reliance on expensive imported power and volatile natural-gas prices. By adding stable generation to the local grid, SMRs could place downward pressure on electricity rates over time while supporting skilled jobs, economic development, and a more resilient energy system for New Hampshire families and businesses."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026

Do you support legislation to expand the net energy metering system capacity cap from 1 MW to 5 MW for all residential and commercial customers in New Hampshire?

"I support the recent expansion of net metering and favor responsibly expanding it further so homeowners, businesses, municipalities, and school districts can generate more of their own electricity and receive fair credit for the excess power they return to the grid. Net metering promotes energy choice, private investment, local generation, and greater resilience, but compensation must reflect the actual value of the electricity provided and should not force utilities to purchase power at inflated rates or shift grid-maintenance costs onto customers who do not participate. A balanced policy should fairly compensate producers, protect utilities and nonparticipating ratepayers from unreasonable costs, and encourage the continued growth of distributed energy without creating hidden subsidies or increasing electric rates."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026

Should New Hampshire restore funding for the Office of the Child Advocate?

"I support a strong and independent Office of the Child Advocate because DCYF exercises extraordinary power over children and families and must be subject to meaningful oversight, transparency, and accountability. However, that office can only function effectively if its leadership is demonstrably neutral, fair-minded, and willing to scrutinize both agency conduct and complaints from families without ideological or institutional bias. I testified against the nomination of Diana Fenton because, in my judgment, she did not meet the level of neutrality required for a position entrusted with investigating such sensitive and consequential matters. The Child Advocate must be independent of DCYF, political factions, and advocacy interests, and must approach every case with an open mind, respect for due process, and an unwavering commitment to the best interests of children."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026

Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?

"I believe human life deserves protection and that abortion should never be treated as a routine form of birth control. In cases involving consensual sexual activity, abstinence is the only certain way to prevent an unwanted pregnancy, and personal responsibility must remain part of this discussion. At the same time, the law must recognize legitimate medical emergencies and include clear exceptions when a pregnancy threatens the life or serious physical health of the mother, is ectopic or otherwise nonviable, or involves a fatal fetal condition, while ensuring physicians can provide necessary care without fear of prosecution. My position is to protect unborn life, support mothers facing difficult pregnancies, expand adoption and prenatal resources, and enact laws that are compassionate, medically workable, and respectful of both life and individual circumstances."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026

Should New Hampshire reinstate the interest and dividends tax?

"I oppose bringing back New Hampshire’s Interest and Dividends Tax because government should not punish people for saving, investing, and preparing for retirement. Reinstating the tax would be a direct tax increase on retirees, families, and small investors, and it would move New Hampshire backward toward a broader personal income tax. We should protect the New Hampshire Advantage, encourage responsible saving and investment, and control government spending rather than reaching back into taxpayers’ pockets. I will vote against any effort to restore the Interest and Dividends Tax."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026

Do you support New Hampshire’s current system of public school funding, with about two-thirds of total funding coming from local property taxes?

"I support a balanced school-funding model in which local districts pay approximately half of the cost of public education and the state pays the other half, or at minimum fully meets its constitutional and legal obligations. Local communities should retain a meaningful financial stake in their schools, but a child’s educational opportunity should not depend on whether that child lives in a property-rich or property-poor town. State funding must therefore be distributed fairly to reduce extreme disparities among districts while preserving local control and accountability. Any increase in state support must also come with stronger financial oversight, transparent reporting, limits on administrative growth, and clear restrictions preventing education funds from being diverted to wasteful or unnecessary spending. Taxpayers deserve both equitable school funding and proof that every education dollar is producing real value for students."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026

Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by allowing home-growing and private use without sales?

"I support legalizing the regulated recreational use of marijuana for adults in New Hampshire. Cannabis is not harmless, but its risks are generally more manageable than those associated with alcohol, and continuing prohibition makes little sense when Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont already permit adult recreational use. A carefully regulated and competitively priced legal market would draw consumers away from illegal dealers, create enforceable standards for potency, labeling, age restrictions, and product testing, and reduce the risk of contaminated or adulterated products entering the market. Legalization should be structured so taxes and regulatory costs do not become so excessive that they preserve the black market. I remain undecided on whether individuals should be permitted to grow marijuana at home for private, noncommercial use, and I would evaluate that issue separately based on public safety, enforceability, and personal-liberty concerns."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026

Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by licensing growers and private retail locations?

"I support legalizing the regulated recreational use of marijuana for adults in New Hampshire. Cannabis is not harmless, but its risks are generally more manageable than those associated with alcohol, and continuing prohibition makes little sense when Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont already permit adult recreational use. A carefully regulated and competitively priced legal market would draw consumers away from illegal dealers, create enforceable standards for potency, labeling, age restrictions, and product testing, and reduce the risk of contaminated or adulterated products entering the market. Legalization should be structured so taxes and regulatory costs do not become so excessive that they preserve the black market. I remain undecided on whether individuals should be permitted to grow marijuana at home for private, noncommercial use, and I would evaluate that issue separately based on public safety, enforceability, and personal-liberty concerns."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026

Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by establishing state-run cannabis stores?

"I support legalizing the regulated recreational use of marijuana for adults in New Hampshire. Cannabis is not harmless, but its risks are generally more manageable than those associated with alcohol, and continuing prohibition makes little sense when Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont already permit adult recreational use. A carefully regulated and competitively priced legal market would draw consumers away from illegal dealers, create enforceable standards for potency, labeling, age restrictions, and product testing, and reduce the risk of contaminated or adulterated products entering the market. Legalization should be structured so taxes and regulatory costs do not become so excessive that they preserve the black market. I remain undecided on whether individuals should be permitted to grow marijuana at home for private, noncommercial use, and I would evaluate that issue separately based on public safety, enforceability, and personal-liberty concerns."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026

Should New Hampshire require new voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport, when registering to vote?

"I support requiring reasonable proof of United States citizenship when a person registers to vote because citizenship is a fundamental constitutional qualification for participating in our elections, and the state has a duty to confirm that every registrant is legally eligible. For most citizens, that qualification can be readily established through commonly available records such as a passport, birth certificate, naturalization documentation, or secure government database verification. The process should include a practical method for eligible citizens with unusual documentation circumstances to verify their status without losing their right to vote, but merely signing a form should not permanently substitute for objective confirmation. Protecting ballot access and protecting election integrity are not competing goals: every qualified citizen should be able to vote, and every voter should be able to trust that only qualified citizens are registered."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026

Should New Hampshire allow at least 10% of students in each school district to enroll in a different public school, regardless of where they live?

"I support open enrollment because a child’s educational opportunities should not be limited by a ZIP code or trapped within a school that is not meeting that student’s needs. Families should be able to choose another public school with available capacity when it offers a better academic program, safer environment, specialized services, or stronger fit for their child. Open enrollment promotes accountability by requiring schools to earn the confidence of families, encourages innovation, and expands opportunity without eliminating public education or local control. Any policy should include fair admissions rules, transparent capacity standards, protections for students with disabilities, and a responsible funding system that allows education dollars to follow the student while preventing districts from manipulating enrollment or costs."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026

Should New Hampshire repeal the ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation?

"I believe human life deserves protection and that abortion should never be treated as a routine form of birth control. In cases involving consensual sexual activity, abstinence is the only certain way to prevent an unwanted pregnancy, and personal responsibility must remain part of this discussion. At the same time, the law must recognize legitimate medical emergencies and include clear exceptions when a pregnancy threatens the life or serious physical health of the mother, is ectopic or otherwise nonviable, or involves a fatal fetal condition, while ensuring physicians can provide necessary care without fear of prosecution. My position is to protect unborn life, support mothers facing difficult pregnancies, expand adoption and prenatal resources, and enact laws that are compassionate, medically workable, and respectful of both life and individual circumstances."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026

Should state law cap how much local school districts can increase their budget each year?

"I supported HB 1300 because taxpayers deserve a direct voice when school-district taxes and spending rise faster than families’ ability to pay. The bill’s local tax-cap process would impose meaningful fiscal discipline while allowing voters to decide whether their district should adopt the cap, and its restrictions on central-office administrative expenses would help ensure that education funding reaches classrooms and students rather than feeding an expanding bureaucracy. A tax cap does not prevent communities from supporting strong schools; it requires school officials to establish priorities, justify major increases, eliminate waste, and obtain public approval before imposing excessive new burdens on homeowners and renters. I support HB 1300 because educational quality and taxpayer accountability must go hand in hand. This will be on the November Ballot!"

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2026

Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?

"I oppose stricter gun laws in New Hampshire because law-abiding citizens should not lose their constitutional rights because criminals refuse to follow the laws already on the books. New Hampshire has a strong tradition of responsible firearm ownership, self-defense, hunting, and respect for individual liberty, and new restrictions would primarily burden responsible citizens rather than violent offenders. The state should focus on enforcing existing laws, prosecuting armed criminals, improving access to mental-health treatment, and addressing threats before violence occurs—not imposing new bans, registration schemes, waiting periods, or other barriers on people who have done nothing wrong. I will defend both the Second Amendment and Part I, Article 2-a of the New Hampshire Constitution and oppose measures that undermine the right to keep and bear arms."