How to register to vote in New Hampshire
Before you can VOTE you must REGISTER.
College students, the League of Women Voters encourages you to register and vote--either at your college address or at your home address by absentee ballot. If you have questions about the legal significance of establishing or changing your voting domicile/legal residence read the statements below. The League, as a nonpartisan organization seeks to provide the most authoritative information available. The most recent statement is at the top.
Read this statement from an article in The Dartmouth Online:
To raise awareness, College sponsors registration drive
By Elise Waxenberg, Tuesday, October 12, 2004. . . .
"In the 2002 election, many Dartmouth students, taking advantage of the state's same-day registration laws, turned out to vote at Hanover High School only to have their residency questioned by lawyers sent by the state Republican Party."In fact, students receiving state-sponsored scholarships have nothing to be concerned about. According to Virginia Hazen, director of financial aid, students who decide to switch their residency to New Hampshire will have the amount they lose in state scholarships entirely compensated for by Dartmouth financial aid. This is a long-standing policy, she said.
"The Financial Aid office released a BlitzMail bulletin Oct. 6 informing students that they won't jeopardize their financial aid by voting in the state, but Hazen said she thinks most students are familiar with their scholarship plans. So far, just two students have come to the office with voting inquiries, she said."
. . . .
Read the whole article at the website.
Quote from the NH Secretary of State web site:
YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE IS NOT AFFECTED BY WHERE YOU OBTAIN A DRIVER'S LICENSE OR REGISTER YOUR CAR. However, you may be subject to fines, administrative penalties, or loss of driving privileges under the motor vehicle laws if you establish legal domicile/residence in New Hampshire and fail, within 60 days, to obtain a New Hampshire license showing that address or if you fail, within 60 days, to register your car in New Hampshire at that address.
Establishing a voting domicile has the effect of also making that place your legal residence for many purposes including motor vehicle laws. Voting records will be routinely matched with motor vehicle department records to ensure valid information is provided in the voter registration process. Establishing a legal residence carries with it the duty to get a NH license if you are going to drive in NH and to register your vehicle here, if you have one, through that town/city. Failing to comply with these motor vehicle laws, however, will NOT affect your right to vote.
Changing your legal address may affect other legal interests. None of these changes affects your right to register and vote where you were domiciled prior to coming to college or your right to register and vote where you are domiciled while attending college, but changing your legal address can cause unrelated changes to things like:
- Health insurance
- Car insurance or vehicle registration costs
- Income taxes
- Any scholarship or grant that is conditioned on your being and remaining a legal resident of a particular town/city or state
- AAA membership
Do not let these concerns discourage you from voting, however. For a few students it may be important to register and vote in the "home town" where you resided before coming to college. Generally, establishing a legal residence or domicile for voting purposes in New Hampshire after you have entered a public college here will not change your tuition status. If you have questions or concerns regarding whether changing your legal residence will affect any of these legal interests you should inquire with your insurance company, your tax advisor, the organization or entity that granted you a scholarship/grant, AAA, or your college admissions officials.
State and local election officials do not have information on the many different insurance programs, scholarships, and grants that exist and will not be able to answer questions about the legal effect of changing your legal residence.
College students should check the information on the Secretary of State's web site: http://www.sos.nh.gov/college.htm
If you are away from home and want to register in your home state. For example, if you are a college student, one way to do it is with the National Mail Voter Registration Form. This form is handled differently in the various states, so you need to get the correct information for your state.
The US Election Assistance Commission has FAQ's About Voter Registration and Voting. Find out where and how to register to vote, how to use the National Mail Voter Registration Form, where and when to vote, and the answers to many other questions about registration and voting.