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Absentee Questions
Can I vote absentee if I’m worried about COVID-19? YES!
The State of NH advises that any eligible voter may vote absentee in 2020 based on concerns regarding COVID-19. These voters should check the "covid" box. You don't need any documentation; your reasonable concern about COVID-19 is enough.
Do I need any documentation to vote absentee? NO.
The decision about whether it is safe and appropriate for you to vote at the polls or vote absentee due to COVID-19 is yours and yours alone.
How can I get a copy of the absentee ballot request form?
You can download and print it from our site. If you don't have a printer, you can request that an application (and a stamped, addressed envelope) be sent to you from iwillvote.
Can I sign the absentee ballot request form digitally?
Some clerks allow a digital signature but some do not. Call your clerk to confirm.
I need my primary absentee ballot sent to one location and my general absentee ballot sent to a different location. How do I indicate that on my form?
Fill out two different request forms. The form only includes space for one address so you will need to fill out two forms checking a box on one form for the primary and a box on the other form for the general.
I’m worried about sending my ballot through the mail, but I want to vote absentee. What can I do?
You can also vote absentee in person at your clerk’s office. Once the ballots are available (typically 30 days before an election), you can request an absentee ballot in person at your clerk’s office and fill out your ballot right then and there. Call your clerk to confirm that the ballots are available and when they are open. You can also request accommodations.
Can I vote in person after I’ve requested, but not submitted, my absentee ballot?
Yes.
Can I vote in person after I've requested and submitted my absentee ballot?
Yes. Call the hotline for instructions on what to do if you’ve changed your mind and want to vote in person after you’ve submitted your absentee ballot.
How do I find my ward for my absentee ballot request?
You can find your ward if you look up your polling place
here. Your polling place will include the Ward number if your municipality has wards. If your municipality does not have wards, no ward number will show up, and you can leave that line blank on your absentee ballot request.
What is the deadline for submitting an absentee ballot application?
There is no deadline for submitting an absentee ballot application, but we recommend submitting it as soon as possible to allow plenty of time for your application to be received and your ballot to be sent.
Remember - your
absentee ballot must be received by your clerk by 5 PM on election day.
Get your request in NOW for both the primary and the general so you don’t have to worry about delays
What is the deadline for submitting your absentee ballot?
Your completed absentee ballot must be received by 5 PM on Election Day. To avoid delays, fill out and submit your ballot as soon as you receive it.
Voters can:
1. request, fill out, and return their ballot in a single trip at their clerk’s office once ballots are available;
2. drop off their completed ballot at their local clerk’s office during business hours;
3. or complete their absentee ballot by mail. If completing by mail, we recommend voters mail their completed ballot back by October 23rd.
When will ballots be sent to me/available for in person absentee voting?
Typically the ballots are sent to the clerks 30 days before an election and then the clerk processes them and sends them out. This year, the clerks are receiving the primary ballots even earlier. You can track your absentee ballot request here.
How much will postage cost to submit my ballot?
A single first-class stamp will suffice if you are mailing just your ballot. Postage costs 55 cents.
However, if you forget a stamp or if your postage is insufficient, the USPS will deliver your ballot to your clerk. This is the USPS’s official and longstanding policy
Can I vote absentee?
YES. Any eligible voter may vote absentee in 2020.
If you are concerned about COVID-19, simply check the “I am unable to vote in person due to concern for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)” option on the absentee ballot application. You don't need any documentation; your reasonable concern about COVID-19 is enough.
We are encouraging voters to request their absentee ballot NOW from their
local clerk.
Voters can:
1. request, fill out, and return their ballot in a single trip at their clerk’s office once ballots are available.
2. drop off their completed ballot at their local clerk’s office during business hours
3. or complete their absentee ballot by mail. If completing by mail, we recommend. voters mail their completed ballot back by October 23rd.
I’m concerned about absentee voting. What if USPS is delayed? What if my ballot doesn’t get to the clerk in time?
This year’s election certainly looks different than past years, but it is important to know that if you vote by absentee ballot and your ballot is received by 5pm on Election Day, your vote WILL be counted. We are encouraging voters to request their absentee ballot NOW from their local clerk.
Voters can:
1. request, fill out, and return their ballot in a single trip at their clerk’s office once ballots are available;
2. drop off their completed ballot at their local clerk’s office during business hours;
3. complete their absentee ballot by mail. If completing by mail, we recommend voters mail their completed ballot back by October 23rd.
Can I drop my absentee ballot off in a dropbox outside my clerk’s office?
It depends. Some cities and towns have staffed dropboxes, and you can drop your completed ballot off there. If you want to drop off your ballot rather than mail it, you will need to go inside your clerk’s office or drop your ballot off in a staffed dropbox location. Check your local clerk’s hours
here.
Can someone else deliver my absentee ballot for me?
Only what we refer to as “delivery agents” may deliver your absentee ballot for you. The following people are considered to be a delivery agent:
-The voter’s spouse, parent, sibling, child, grandchild, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, stepparent or stepchild;
-Licensed nursing home administrator or a nursing home staff member designated in writing by the administrator to deliver ballots;
-The residential care facility administrator, or residential care facility staff member designated in writing by the administrator to deliver ballots;
-The person* assisting a blind voter or a voter with a disability who has signed a statement on the affidavit envelope acknowledging assistance. (*This person cannot deliver more than 4 absentee ballots.)
-A family member or other delivery agent will need to show identification and sign a form when they deliver the ballot.
Can I vote absentee in person?
Yes! Voters can request, fill out, and return their ballot in a single trip to their clerk’s office once ballots are available. Learn more.
Does NH have early voting?
Yes! While there is no formal "early voting," any voter can request, fill out, and return their ballot in a single trip to their clerk’s office. Learn more.
College FAQs
I go to college in NH but my parents live out of state. Can I vote here?
You can vote in NH as long as you are a US citizen, will be 18 or older on or before Election day, and are domiciled in New Hampshire. The law makes it very clear: “a student of any institution of learning may lawfully claim domicile for voting purposes in the New Hampshire town or city in which he or she lives while attending such institution of learning if such student’s claim of domicile otherwise meets the requirements.” RSA 654:1, I-a.
What if my campus is remote in the fall, can I still vote? It depends.
If you have already established a presence in NH and if NH remains your domicile (civic home), you can vote in NH. You must vote in the town or ward where you last lived in New Hampshire.
People that are sheltering away from NH because of COVID-19 and intend to return are still considered to live here for voting purposes. That’s because “one cannot lose one’s domicile until a new one is clearly established” Casey v. NH, at 6 (2020).
If you have never been to NH, you can’t vote here, even if you are enrolled in a NH school. You need to have established a physical presence in NH and made it your domicile (civic home).
I don’t know what my address will be when I come back to campus; what is my domicile address for my absentee ballot?
If you are temporarily absent, your domicile (voting) address is the last place you physically lived in New Hampshire. You must vote in that town or ward unless or until you move to a different ward in NH. You can provide a different mailing address for your absentee materials.
Do I need a license or a car registration to vote? NO!!!
You do NOT need a driver’s license in order to vote. You do not need a car registration to vote. Your license status has no effect whatsoever on your right to vote.
“Election laws do not establish motor vehicle or driving privileges and obligations, nor do the motor vehicle laws establish voting eligibility.” Casey v. NH at 9 (2020).
Am I eligible to vote in New Hampshire?
If you live in New Hampshire, are a U.S. Citizen, and will be 18 years of age or older by election day, you can vote in New Hampshire.
If you live in NH, but are somewhere else temporarily, you keep your voting home here unless and until you make a new place your home. If you’re a college student, you can register in New Hampshire if this is your “domicile,” meaning the place you choose to lay your head at night and where you choose to be part of the community.
What if I’ve left New Hampshire temporarily, but intend to come back?
If you established your civic home in New Hampshire but are someplace else temporarily, you remain domiciled here unless and until you make a new place your domicile. Just because you might move in the future does not prevent you from voting here.
Registration
Am I eligible to vote in New Hampshire?
If you live in New Hampshire, are a U.S. Citizen, and will be 18 years of age or older by election day, you can vote in New Hampshire.
If you live in NH, but are somewhere else temporarily, you keep your voting home here unless and until you make a new place your home. If you’re a college student, you can register in New Hampshire if this is your “domicile,” meaning the place you choose to lay your head at night and where you choose to be part of the community.
I recently moved. Do I need to re-register to vote?
If you have moved to a new town or ward within your city, you need to re-register to vote. Check your
voter registration.
Who can register to vote in New Hampshire?
All New Hampshire inhabitants who will be 18 or older on Election Day and are United States citizens are eligible to vote in New Hampshire. There is no minimum period of time you are required to have lived in the state before registering to vote. You may register as soon as you move into your new community.
How do I register to vote in New Hampshire?
Check out our Voter Registration page to learn more.
What are some examples of the proof I can submit to register to vote?
To register to vote, you must provide proof of your a) ID, b) domicile, c) citizenship, and d) age. HOWEVER, the law allows you to sign affidavits to prove each of these instead of providing documentation when you register to vote in person.
If you are registering by mail, you must provide proof of identity and domicile; you can't sign an affidavit for these unless you see your clerk face to face. Here are examples of proof:
You can prove both ID and domicile with a copy of a photo identification issued by the U.S. or state government that shows your name and address. Or, you must provide separate proof of domicile & identification.
According to the SOS, that proof could include:
Identification (RSA 659:13, SOS Memo):
A driver’s license or non-driver ID issued by any state or the federal government;
A United States armed services identification card;
A United States passport or passcard;
A valid student identification card issued by a New Hampshire college, university, or career school, a New Hampshire public or private high school, which is current or which expired not more than 5 years ago.
Domicile (proof of address)
ID listing address
Current utility bill;
Bank statement;
Government check;
Paycheck; or
Other document showing an individual’s name and address
A driver’s license or non-driver ID issued by any state or the federal government;
A United States armed services identification card;
A United States passport or passcard;
A valid student identification card issued by a New Hampshire college, university, or career school, a New Hampshire public or private high school, which is current or which is not more than 5 years ago.
A letter from the administrator of a nursing home confirming that the person registering to vote is a resident there;
I am trying to register absentee, but I cannot get a hold of my clerk to get the packet sent to me. What do I do?
Call our hotline at 603-466-8683 and we'll walk you through it. We'd also recommend emailing the Secretary of State at elections@sos.nh.gov to request the absentee registration packet. They can send it to you as well.
Can I register to vote at my polling place on Election Day?
Yes. You have an absolute right to register on Election Day at your polling place. Just show up and get in the line for new registrants.
Show your supervisors of the checklist or the town or city clerk proof of citizenship, age, identity, and domicile. Every voter can sign an affidavit to establish any of these elements - a voter should never leave without voting because they did not show ID.
For questions about what to bring, see our "Registration" page.
I have moved. Do I need to re-register to vote? Where should I go on Election Day?
If your new address is in a different town or ward, you must re-register at your new polling place and vote there.
If you are already registered in NH, and you are reregistering in a different town in NH, you do not need to re-prove age or citizenship.
I am registered to vote. Do I need an ID to vote on Election Day?
No - an ID is not necessary, but it makes the process easier. You will be asked for a photo ID when you vote in person. If you don't have a photo ID or don't have it with you, you can sign an affidavit, have your picture taken, and vote normally.
Misc
What if I’ve left New Hampshire temporarily, but intend to come back?
If you established your civic home in New Hampshire but are someplace else temporarily, you remain domiciled here unless and until you make a new place your domicile. Just because you might move in the future does not prevent you from voting here.
How do I become an “undeclared” voter again after the primary?
You will be able to become unaffiliated with a party and register as undeclared after the primary. Some clerks are sending out "return to undeclared" cards with your ballot. If you vote in person, you can fill out the "return to undeclared" card at your polling place after you cast your ballot.
Otherwise, you can always complete a party change form at your clerk’s office or at a Supervisors of the Checklist meeting after the primary.
Did HB 1264 change the requirements for who can vote? NO!
House Bill 1264 did NOT change the law about who could vote.
The official guidance from the NH Secretary of State and Attorney General is:
"HB 1264 made NO CHANGES to New Hampshire's election laws. It remains the law that to vote in New Hampshire, one must be a United States citizen, at least 18 years old, and a domiciliary of the ward or town."
- NH Secretary of State, Attorney General and Department of Safety.
Joint Memo to Local Election Officials dated November 7, 2019.
How do I vote if I'm a US Citizen living abroad or a Uniformed Service Member?
There is a separate process for overseas voters (called "UOCAVA" voters). Go to the
US Vote Foundation site to register to vote, request your absentee ballot, change your party affiliation, or find out more information about voting as an overseas citizen.
Note that the UOCAVA process is NOT available for voters currently within the United States.
Can I vote in the State Primary if I am an undeclared voter? YES!
If you are currently undeclared, you can declare your party on your absentee ballot request form or at the polls on election day to cast a ballot in a party's primary.
Are firearms allowed at a polling place on Election Day?
New Hampshire has no state laws prohibiting firearms in polling places, but carrying a firearm within 1000 feet of a public, parochial or private school is a Federal Crime under the Gun Free School Zones Act. 18 U.S. Code § 922.
Election Day
Can I vote if I have a felony conviction? Yes!
Unless you are currently incarcerated for a felony conviction you can vote. People on probation or parole can vote just like anyone else. Misdemeanors never keep you from voting.
Can college students vote in NH? YES!
College students can vote in NH like anyone else. To vote in NH, you must be a US citizen, will be 18 or older on or before Election day, and be domiciled in New Hampshire.
Your “domicile” is your civic home. It’s where you choose to lay your head and choose to be part of the community.
I am homeless. Can I vote? YES!
So long as you meet the requirements to register to vote in NH you can vote. You can provide a letter from a homeless shelter or a written statement from a friend with whom you are temporarily residing to show domicile. RSA 654:12 I(c)(1)(B) A domicile can also be a bridge, park, or intersection.
Do I need an ID to vote?
You will be asked for a photo ID when you vote in person. If you don't have a photo ID or don't have it with you, you can sign an affidavit and vote normally. New Hampshire does not have provisional ballots--your ballot will be counted.
Where is my polling place?
Look it up by entering your address here.
Can I register outside of the polling place on Election Day? Or do I need to go inside to register?
You should be allowed to register outside the polling place if COVID-19 concerns render you unable to enter the polling place. This is an in-person, not absentee registration.
Elections officials are required to make allowances for this. If you are not able to register outside your polling place, please us at 604-466-8683.
For more information on registration, please see our "Registration" page.
I am registered to vote. Do I need an ID to vote on Election Day?
No - an ID is not necessary, but it makes the process easier. You will be asked for a photo ID when you vote in person. If you don't have a photo ID or don't have it with you, you can sign an affidavit, have your picture taken, and vote normally.
Do I need to go inside my polling place to vote? Or can I vote outside?
If your concern about Covid-19 prevents you from going inside, you should be able to vote outside. This is a safe voting accommodation.
Under RSA 659:20-a, individuals with a disability that prevents them from entering the polling place on Election Day are allowed reasonable accommodations to vote outside of the polling booth. HB 1266, which deems Covid-19 a disability for election purposes, allows individuals who are concerned about Covid to take advantage of this same provision.
Voters should drop off their absentee ballots by 5:00 p.m. wherever possible.
It is after 5:00pm. Can I still vote outside my polling place?
Yes, if you swear an oath that you need to vote outside due to extenuating circumstances under COVID-19.
After 5 PM, a voter should be able to take advantage of the same provision (RSA 659:20-a) that allows them to vote outside via absentee ballot until the polling place closes. The polling place may enforce a different procedure after 5 PM whereby the voter will have to fill out a new absentee ballot application and ballot rather than being able to drop off an already-filled out ballot.
Can I vote in person at the polling place after I’ve requested, but not submitted, my absentee ballot?
Yes.
Can I vote in person at the polling place after I’ve submitted my absentee ballot?
Yes, but you’ll need to arrive at the polls before your absentee ballot is processed.
Absentee ballots will not be processed until at least 1 hour (SB 1266) after the polls open. So you may “beat your ballot” if you vote in person right when the polls open.
If you arrive after your absentee ballot has already been fully processed and fed into the voting machine, you will not be permitted to vote in person on Election Day.
I already received and filled out my absentee ballot. Do I need to go inside my polling place to return my absentee ballot? Or can drop it off outside the polling place?
Voters may drop off their own absentee ballots to a staffed drop box, or to authorized election officials outside the polls on Election Day. There may be additional paperwork to fill out if you arrive after 5 PM, so go as early as you can.
I already received and filled out my absentee ballot, and I want to return it at my polling place. Do I need to show ID to return my absentee ballot?
An ID makes the process easier, but is not required. Election officials will likely ask you for ID when you drop off your absentee ballot, but you cannot be turned away if you do not have one, so long as you assert that you are dropping off your own ballot.
Ensure that you’ve properly filled out your affidavit envelope (inner envelope) and your ballot. For more information, see our "Absentee Voting" page.
I already received and filled out my absentee ballot, but I cannot drop it off at the polling place myself. Can someone else drop off my absentee ballot at the polling place for me?
Yes. But only delivery agents may deliver your absentee ballot for you and they must deliver it by 5 PM.
The following people are considered to be a delivery agent, per NH RSA 657:17:
The voter’s spouse, parent, sibling, child, grandchild, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, stepparent or stepchild;
Nursing home administrator licensed pursuant to RSA 151-A:2, or a nursing home staff member designated in writing by the administrator to deliver ballots;
The residential care facility administrator, or residential care facility staff member designated in writing by the administrator to deliver ballots;
The person* assisting a blind voter a voter with a disability who has signed a statement on the affidavit envelope acknowledging assistance. (*This person cannot deliver more than 4 absentee ballots.)
Your delivery agent will be asked to complete a return form and show photo identification in order to deliver your ballot.
On the Secretary of State Absentee Ballot tracker, it does not show that my ballot has been received. What should I do?
It is possible that the clerk has received your ballot, but simply not input that fact into the SOS system. It is also possible that the clerk has not received your ballot.
If you are concerned that your ballot may not have been received, you can find out at your polling place and can complete a new ballot if your absentee ballot has not been received. The official checklist will reflect whether your absentee ballot has been accepted.
Are masks required at polling stations?
It is up to each Town Moderator to decide whether voters and election officials must wear masks inside the polling stations.
May voters refuse to wear a mask?
In municipalities where masks are required, voters who don’t want to wear a mask will be offered an alternative way to vote or register, such as in a separate, socially distanced area within the polling place or outside under a shelter.
Will voters wearing masks have to take them off for ID purposes?
Voters wearing masks may be asked to reveal their face if needed for the election official to verify that their face matches their photo ID, or if needed during a challenged voter affidavit process. However, no voters will be asked to remove their masks for an extended time. The use of a sneeze guard between voters and election officials is recommended but not required.
I thought we already had our primary. Who is on the ballot at the state primary?
The presidential primary was in February, but this September is the state primary for all offices in New Hampshire.
Who can vote in the primary?
At the September 8, 2020 State primary, you can vote for only your declared party's candidates. Undeclared voters may still vote in either party’s primary by declaring their party at the polls or on their absentee ballot request form.
Can I switch parties for the primary?
No. If you are a registered Democrat or Republican, the deadline to change parties before the primary has passed (June 2, 2020).
How do I become an “undeclared” voter again after the primary?
You will be able to become unaffiliated with a party and register as undeclared after the primary. The Secretary of State is reevaluating this process and will provide guidance. You can always complete a party change form at your clerk’s office or at a Supervisors of the Checklist meeting.
Can I register to vote at my polling place on Election Day?
Yes. You have an absolute right to register on Election Day at your polling place. Just show up and get in the line for new registrants.
Show your supervisors of the checklist or the town or city clerk proof of citizenship, age, identity, and domicile. Every voter can sign an affidavit to establish any of these elements - a voter should never leave without voting because they did not show ID.
For questions about what to bring, see our "Registration" page.
I have moved. Do I need to re-register to vote? Where should I go on Election Day?
If your new address is in a different town or ward, you must re-register at your new polling place and vote there.
If you are already registered in NH, and you are reregistering in a different town in NH, you do not need to re-prove age or citizenship.