Almost Everything about Voting in New Hampshire
Registration (required to vote):
Check to see if you are registered to vote at: https://app.sos.nh.gov/Public/PartyInfo.aspx
If you’re not registered, register. Information on how to register: https://www.voteinnh.org/register
Registration Deadline: Last day to register is the day that the Supervisors of the Checklist meet on a day 6-13 days prior to the primary/general election. Check with your clerk’s office for the day and time of the session. If you miss this date, you may register to vote at the polls on election day if you are qualified.
Voting:
Voting dates: New Hampshire State Primary is: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2020
New Hampshire General Election is: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2020
Absentee voting:
Any voter who is concerned about contracting or spreading COVID-19 may vote absentee in the 2020 elections. See instructions at: https://www.voteinnh.org/absentee
There is no deadline for submitting an absentee ballot application. Submit it as soon as possible to allow time for your application to be received and your ballot to be sent.
Typically clerks have ballots 30 days before an election and then the clerk processes and sends them out (30 days before NH primary is August 8; 30 days before NH general election is October 3). If your ballot hasn’t arrived a week before the election, check with town clerk to find out the reason and advice on how to remedy.
Your absentee ballot must be RECEIVED by your clerk by 5 PM on election day. Warning: this is a received-by deadline, not submit-by deadline. Fill out and submit your ballot as soon as you receive it. You can drop your ballot off at your clerk’s office prior to election day so you do not have to worry about possible mail delays.
Early voting: New Hampshire does not offer in-person early voting.
Voting on Election Day
By law polling places must be open 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Local polling must include those hours. To find your polling place and hours go to: https://app.sos.nh.gov/Public/PollingPlaceSearch.aspx Avoid the end-of-the-day rush if you can.
Documentation needed to vote: It’s easiest to use your driver’s license, but there are alternatives. See http://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/nhpr/files/voter_id_explanatory_document_2018.pdf
No voter should be turned away from the polls for lacking documents, but it will cause complications.
CDC COVID-19 recommendations for voters are similar to those for a trip to the supermarket: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/election-polling-locations.html#VoterRecommendations
Additional special CDC voting-day recommendations.
- Avoid delays by verifying your voter info and having any necessary registration forms ready;
- Bring your own black pen so you don’t have to use one that’s been touched by other voters;
- Review a sample ballot online so you can vote and depart quickly.
Note: In addition to this document, there are excellent online references. One good long-form source is: