New Hampshire Absentee Voter Guide

Military and overseas voters should check out the Overseas Vote Foundation.  Long Distance Voter's forms and deadlines should only be used by voters with US mailing addresses.

Mail-In Deadlines

General Election: Tuesday, November 4, 2008 

Voter Registration

To register to vote in New Hampshire you must:

• be a citizen of the United States
• be at least 18 years by the time of the next election
• be a resident of New Hampshire
• there is no minimum residency requirement. You can register to vote in New Hampshire any time after moving into the state

How to register to vote:

New Hampshire prefers that voters register in person.  If this is impossible for you (because of physical disability, religious beliefs, military service, or because of temporary absence) you can register by mail.  There are three ways to do this:

• Highly Recommended: you can apply for an absentee ballot even if you're not registered to vote.  Download and complete the New Hampshire Absentee Ballot Application. Mail your completed request, and a copy of your ID, to your town/city clerk. Your city clerk will mail you a voter registration form with your absentee ballot.  This is the fastest way to register and get your absentee ballot.
• Recommended: You can also call your town/city clerk and ask them to send you a mail-in voter registration form and a voter registration affidavit (the affidavit is a legal document that states that you are registering by mail because you can't register in person).  Once they mail you the documents, complete both in front of a notary and have the affidavit notarized. Mail both forms back to your town/city clerk.  
• You can download the New Hampshire voter registration application.  Complete the application and mail it to the address on the form.  Your town or city clerk will then send you a mail-in voter registration form and a voter registration affidavit.  Mail both the affidavit and the completed voter registration form back to your town/city clerk. This is the slowest way to register.  Just avoid it.
  

ID requirements for first-time voters:

If you are a first-time New Hampshire voter then you must provide ID with your voter registration form. If you forget, you'll need to provide ID the first time you vote in person or by absentee ballot. Acceptable forms of ID include a copy of your driver's license or other photo identification that shows your name OR a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and current address.

Voter registration verification:

You should receive written confirmation that your voter registration was processed in 2-3 weeks.  Don't panic if you never receive your voter registration card: you don't actually need it to vote.  If you not sure if your registration was processed - or if you simply can't remember if you're register to vote - you can use the voter registration verification tools here.

Absentee Voting

You may vote by absentee ballot if:

• you will be absent on the day of any state election from the county, city, or town in which you are registered to vote
• you are unable appear in public on election day because of your observance of a religious commitment
• you are unable to vote in person by reason of physical disability
• you are unable to vote in person by reason of military service
• you are unable to appear at any time during polling hours at your polling place because an employment obligation requires you to remain physically at work or to be in transit to or from work from the time the polls open until after the time the polls close

How to apply for an absentee ballot:

Download and complete the New Hampshire Absentee Ballot Application.  Mail your completed request to your town/city clerk.  You do not need to include a copy of your ID if you are already registered to vote.  You must include a copy of your ID if you are not yet registered to vote. Acceptable forms of ID include a copy of your driver's license or other photo identification that shows your name OR a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and current address.  Your city clerk will mail process your application and mail you a voter registration form with your absentee ballot. 

Your town/city clerk will first check to see if you're already registered.  If you're not, your clerk will mail you a voter registration form along with your absentee ballot.

Absentee ballot instructions:

Your absentee ballot will include an affidavit affirming that you are entitled to vote by absentee ballot.  Sign this affidavit, complete your absentee ballot, and mail everything back to your town/city clerk.  Your ballot must be received by 5pm on Election Day!

If you're unregistered, your clerk will mail you a voter registration form, an absentee ballot affidavit, and an absentee ballot.  Fill everything out, sign where indicated, and mail it all back to your town/city clerk.  Your ballot must be received by 5pm on Election Day!

State Contact Information