Elections

Three questions appeared on the November 2012 ballot. They were all defeated. That means the status quo remains the same. The legislature may still consider a personal income tax as a revenue source, the state supreme court retains control over setting rules and procedures for all courts in the state, and there will be no constitutional convention in the near future.

The text of the questions and a simple explanation of what a YES or NO vote meant for each are explained in this pdf: Ballot questions Nov. 2012

The legislature's passage of SB289, the voter identification law, will require changes in election procedures for November 2012's general election and for other elections up to Sept. 2013. The bill includes further significant changes for elections after that.

For the November 2012 election and for all town/city or special elections before Sept. 2013, the following photo IDs will be accepted. You will be asked to show only one photo ID. IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have none of these documents, or if you forgot to bring them with you, you may instead sign an affidavit stating you are who you claim to be. Acceptable photo IDs for November 2012 and other elections before Sept. 2013 include:
- A driver's license from New Hampshire or any other state regardless of expiration date
- A non-driver's photo ID from New Hampshire
- A United States armed services identification card
- A United States passport regardless of expiration date
- Any other valid photo ID from federal, state, county, or municipal government
- A valid student identification card
- A photo ID deemed acceptable by the Moderator, Supervisor of the Checklist or Town or City Clerk
- Verification of a person's identity by the Moderator, Supervisor of the Checklist or Town or City Clerk.

Download the pdf about the voter ID requirements. The League gives permission for groups and individuals to copy and distribute this important information.

Please check our calendar page for special elections scheduled in 2013. In case we miss some, you may also check the Secretary of State's website on special elections.

Elections in major cities for city offices and school board are held in November. City primaries are held in September.

Elections for town and school board offices are held in many towns on March 12, 2013. Some towns hold elections on May 14. 2013, instead. Deliberative sessions in SB2 towns are held earlier (call your town clerk to confirm dates). Town meeting may be held on the same day as elections or a subsequent date.

If you have questions about your voting rights, you may contact the Secretary of State, 603-271-3242, the Attorney General, 603-271-3658, or the League, 603-225-5344.

Are you registered to vote? Do you want to change your party, your address, your name?

Download the pdf flier Voter Registration Information

WHO NEEDS TO REGISTER If you are already registered in the town or city where you live now, you don't need to register again. If you moved to a new town, or if you never registered in your town before, you need to register in order to vote. NH law allows voters to register on the same day as they vote. Be aware this will take extra time at the polls. If possible, register at your town or city clerk's office in advance, up to 10 days before an election.

WHO CAN REGISTER

New Hampshire residents who will be 18 years of age or older on election day, and a United States citizen, may register with the town or city clerk or with the Supervisors of the Checklist in their town up to 10 days before any election. You may also register on election day at the polling place. You will be asked to show proof of age, citizenship and domicile.

New Hampshire doesn't have a length of residency requirement for voting. Even if you moved here recently, you may vote if this is the place where you are living now, not just vacationing or visiting. You may claim only one place as your residence for voting purposes.

HOW TO REGISTER

1. Apply at your town or city clerk's office. You will be required to fill out a standard voter registration form and will be asked to show proof of age, citizenship and domicile.

2. Register with your community's Supervisors of the Checklist. By law they are required to meet on the Saturday 10 days prior to each election. Check the local newspaper(s) or call your clerk's office for the place, date and time of such meeting. You will be required to fill out a standard voter registration form and will be asked to show proof of age, citizenship and domicile.

3. Qualified individuals may also register to vote at the polling place on election day at all elections. You will be required to fill out a standard voter registration form and will be required to show proof of age, citizenship and domicile.

When you register, you will fill out a form giving your name, age, place of birth, local residence, previous voting address if you were registered to vote somewhere else, and a driver's license identification number or the last four digits of your social security number if you have one. You will be asked to read and sign a statement saying you understand voting fraud is a crime. You will also be asked for documents to confirm your identity, age and residence in the voting district.

PROVING YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO REGISTER

There are several ways to prove your identity, age and residence. The easiest is to bring a current driver's license or non-driver photo ID, a current passport or current military photo ID to the polls with you. If you are a naturalized citizen, you should bring your naturalization papers if you have them. If not, you can sign a citizenship affidavit.

If you don't have a current government photo ID, there are other ways to meet the requirements. As a last resort, you can sign an affidavit saying you are who you say you are and you live where you say you live. Other common documents you can use to register include a student ID, employee ID, birth certificate, rental lease, tax bill, utility bill, bank statement or any other document that would reasonably establish your identity and local residence.

If you are qualified to be a voter in your voting district, you cannot be denied the right to vote. You should bring the best available documentation with you if you register on Election Day but you cannot be turned away or required to leave the polling place to get any documents on Election Day.

Once you have registered to vote, you will be directed to the Ballot Clerk to receive your ballot. The next time you vote, you can go straight to the Ballot Clerk and announce your name.

For further registration information, including that related to absentee registration and ballots, college students, overseas citizens and armed services, please see the Secretary of State, Elections Division "web page"http://http://sos.nh.gov/RegVote.aspx

The preceding information is based on information from the Attorney General's office and the Elections page of the Secretary of State's website, http://sos.nh.gov/Elections.aspx, and state law.

If you are already registered but know you won't be able to go to the polls on Election Day because of disability, religious beliefs, work schedule, military service, or temporary absense, you may use an absentee ballot to vote. You may get a ballot at the Town Clerk's office until 5:00 P.M. on the day before election day. If you plan to mail an absentee ballot, it must be received at the Town Clerk's office by 5:00 P.M. on Election Day. Absentee ballots may NOT be faxed.

To get an absentee ballot by mail, fill out and mail or fax the official absentee ballot application well in advance to your town or city clerk's office. You are not required to have a photo ID to vote absentee. Your signature will be checked against your registration signature.

STATE INFORMATION

To find names and contact information for your State Representatives or Senator, use the search engine at the New Hampshire General Court's web page. To examine current state legislation or research the voting records of state legislators, see the New Hampshire General Court's web page.

FEDERAL INFORMATION

Click on these links to find names and contact information for your United States Representative or United States Senators. View the Library of Congress' web page for comprehensive information on current and past federal legislation.

• Rep Carol Shea-Porter (district 1)

1530 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515

DC 202-225-5456

<http://www.shea-porter.house.gov>

• Rep Annie Kuster (District 2)

137 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515

NH: 603-226-1002

DC 202-225-5206

<http://www.kuster.house.gov/>

• Sen Kelly Ayotte

188 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510

NH: 603-622-7979

DC: 202-224-3324

<http://www.ayotte.senate.gov/>

• Sen Jeanne Shaheen

G55 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510

NH: 603-647-7500

DC: 202-224-2841

<http://www.shaheen.senate.gov/>

Voting information from the NH Secretary of State's website:

To find out which district you are in for the Congressional race as well as state Senate, state House, and Executive Council, go to http://sos.nh.gov/Voting_Districts.aspx

Not sure where you should go to vote? Not sure of the hours to vote? You can type in your name and address on this secure site of the NH Secretary of State's website and find out the address for your polling place: http://cfs.sos.nh.gov/app/Public/PollingPlaceSearch.aspx