How to Register to Vote in New Hampshire
Before you can VOTE you must REGISTER.
To understand how a primary election differs from a general election, read on:
When you vote in a primary election, you vote for candidates of only one party. Therefore, you must obtain the ballot of the party of your choice. There is more than one way to do this.
If you indicate a party preference when you register to vote, then at a primary election you will be given the ballot of this party.
If you do not indicate a party preference when you register to vote, then at a primary election, you must ask for the ballot of the party of your choice. You then become a member of that party. If you prefer not to be affiliated with any party, then you may request and fill out a card before you leave the polls.
If you wish to change your party affiliation, there is an important deadline well before the primary election. You can make a change at your town or city clerk's office or at a meeting of the Supervisors of the Checklist for your town.
PARTY MEMBERSHIP
HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER OF A POLITICAL PARTY?
You may indicate a party preference when you register to vote, but you are not required to do so.
IF I AM NOT A MEMBER OF A POLITICAL PARTY, MAY I VOTE IN A PRIMARY ELECTION?
Yes. On Primary Day you may go to the polls and ask for the ballot of the party of your choice. You then become a member of that party. If you wish to change back to undeclared, you may request and fill out a card before you leave the polls. If you are not a member of a political party and are voting absentee, you must request a ballot of the party in which you wish to vote.
HOW CAN I CHANGE MY PARTY AFFILIATION?
You can request the change at the town or city clerk’s office in most towns, or at a meeting of the supervisors of the checklist. The last time you can change your party affiliation before a Primary Election is the day before the filing period for candidates for THAT election. This deadline is the first Tuesday in June before the state primary.
ONCE I AM A PARTY MEMBER, CAN I RETURN TO AN UNAFFILIATED STATUS?
Yes. You can return to an unaffiliated status by following the procedure used to change your party affiliation.
Registration and Voting
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE?
All U.S. citizens 18 years of age or older who are residents of NH and are registered to vote in their town or city.
HOW DO I REGISTER TO VOTE?
You can register to vote up to 10 days before any election or primary, or you can register at the polls on election day.
Residents of cities and most towns can apply to register with their city or town clerk during business hours or can register with the supervisors of the checklist, who must meet at least once before each election. Registration dates must be published in a local newspaper. Contact your city or town clerk for the dates and times of registration sessions.
You must have proof of domicile, age and citizenship. There are affidavits available for you to sign attesting to your domicile and/or citizenship. Registering to vote establishes your domicile, or residency, in New Hampshire and requires that your driver's license and automobile registration, if you have them, must be transferred to NH within 60 days of the date you register to vote.
If you are a college student whose home is in another state, there is additional information about the possible effect of establishing New Hampshire residency.
If you move within the state of New Hampshire, you need to re-register in the new location.
CAN MY VOTER REGISTRATION BE CANCELED?
Your name can be removed from the checklist if you move from the town or city, you die, or if you fail to vote in any of the two general elections before the census. The next verification will be in 2011. You must reregister if you move to another NH town or city. The supervisors of the checklist in your new location will notify the officials in your former town who will remove your name from their checklist.
WHERE DO I GO TO VOTE?
Contact your town or city clerk before any election to verify your voting place.
MAY I WRITE IN A CANDIDATE?
Yes, you may write in a candidate for any office. Write-in procedures are different in most towns and cities in the state depending on the type of ballot you are voting on, so check with the election officials at your voting place for the correct procedure for your ballot. You may have to check the box next to the name you write in order for your vote to count. Check with the election officials when you vote.
HOW DO I REGISTER TO VOTE IF I CANNOT APPEAR IN PERSON?
If you are temporarily absent from your place of residence or are physically unable to register in person, you can apply to your city or town clerk or to the Secretary of State for an absentee registration form. You can register absentee up to 10 days before an election, however, this registration form MUST be witnessed. Check with your city or town clerk for special arrangements for members of the armed forces and overseas residents.
WHEN CAN I VOTE ABSENTEE?
If you will be away from your voting place or will be unable to get there for physical or religious reasons, you can vote absentee in any federal, state, or local election in which an official ballot is issued.
HOW DO I GET AN ABSENTEE BALLOT?
You can apply in person or by mail to your own city or town clerk for an absentee ballot. You must deliver the completed ballot in person so that it is received by the clerk before 5:00 PM on the day BEFORE the election. Or, if you send it by mail, it must be received by 5:00 PM on the day of the election.
WHEN DO ELECTIONS OCCUR?
- PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTION - in a Presidential election year, the second Tuesday in March or the Tuesday immediately preceding the date on which any other state holds a similar election, whichever date is earlier.
- STATE PRIMARY ELECTION - on the second Tuesday in September, in even-numbered years.
- STATE GENERAL ELECTIONS - on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, in even-numbered years.
- MOST CITY ELECTIONS - in the fall, in odd-numbered years.
- TOWN ELECTIONS - Most towns meet on the second Tuesday in March, yearly. Check with your city or town clerk since some towns meet in May.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Consult Secretary of State William M. Gardner
State House Room 204, Concord, NH 03301
(603) 271-3242
www.sos.nh.gov/electionsnew.htm