New Hampshire residents who will be 18 years of age or older on election day, and a United States citizen, may register to vote. 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the date of the next scheduled election may register to vote, but may not actually vote until they are 18.

In New Hampshire eligible citizens with felony convictions may register when they are released from incarceration, even if they are still on parole or probation. Eligible citizens awaiting sentencing or serving jail sentences for misdemeanor charges may register to vote absentee from the town where they last lived.

New Hampshire citizens who are homeless may register using as their address the social service agencies where they get their mail, or the shelter where they are living.

New Hampshire has no 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.

You cannot register or vote in any town in New Hampshire if you are just vacationing or visiting that town.

No. You may claim only one place as the place you live for voting purposes. Generally it is the place where you live most of the year.

If you moved to a new town or or to a different ward in your city, or if you never registered in your town before, you need to register in order to vote.

If it has been many years since you last voted, you probably need to register again. The voting rolls are “purged” of non-voters about every 10 years.

You can find out whether you are registered and with which party you are registered via the Secretary of State’s website.

If you are already registered in the town or in the ward of the city where you live now, you don’t need to register again.

If possible, register in advance at your town or city clerk’s office, up to 6-13 days before an election (this 6-13 days period when no registrations are accepted will vary depending on specific elections–check with town/city clerk’s office).

NH law allows voters to register on election day, at their own polling place. Be aware this will take extra time at the polls. Bring documents to prove identity, age, citizenship, and where you live to speed up the process. NOTE: Effective Jan. 1, 2023, per SB418 passed last year, anyone registering at the polls on election day for the first time in New Hampshire MUST show a photo ID. If they don’t have one, they will be allowed to cast a provisional ballot only. Ask for more information from the registrars if this applies to you.

If you wish to run for public office, you must be a registered voter in that party before the filing period opens.

You have three choices:

1. Apply at your town or city clerk’s office. You will be required to fill out a voter registration form and will be asked to show proof of identity, age, citizenship and where you live.

2. Register with your city or town”s Supervisors of the Checklist. By law they are required to meet about 6 to 13 days before each election (the exact date will vary by elections and by towns). Check the local newspaper or call your city/town clerk’s office for the place, date and time of such meeting. You will be required to fill out a voter registration form and will be asked to show proof of identity, age, citizenship and where you live.

3. You may register to vote at the polling place on election day at all elections. You will be required to fill out a voter registration form and will be asked to show proof of identity, age, citizenship and where you live.

New Hampshire does not have online voter registration. Nor does it allow third-party registrations.

If you meet the state’s voter qualifications and are unable to register in person because of health issues, disability or temporary absence, which includes incarceration for a misdemeanor or awaiting trial, you may register by mail.

You should request an absentee voter registration affidavit, New Hampshire voter registration form, and instructions from your town or city clerk. You must return the completed affidavit, voter registration form, and copies of documents proving identity and where you live to your town or city clerk. Your affidavit will need to be witnessed (but not notarized.)

For more directions on absentee registration, visit the NH Secretary of State’s webpage

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 don’t have a license. 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 prove your identity, age, citizenship, and where you live in the voting district.

A driver’s license with your current address can be offered for identity, age, and where you live.

A birth certificate (if you have not since changed your name) or naturalization papers or US Passport can prove citizenship.

Government mail sent to your address can prove where you live. A lease or deed or utility bill can also prove where you live.

College students can show documents proving their campus or off-campus addresses, either in paper copies or online.

If you don’t have all the required documents, don’t worry. You may sign a paper attesting to the truth of the information you provide.

NOTE: Effective Jan. 1, 2023, per SB418 passed last year, anyone registering at the polls on election day for the first time in New Hampshire MUST show a photo ID. If they don’t have one, they will be allowed to cast a provisional ballot only. Ask for more information from the registrars if this applies to you.

Note: Effective AFTER the Nov. 2024 election: to register you must show photo ID plus documents showing your age, where you live, and citizenship. A driver’s license with your current address plus a passport or birth certificate or naturalization papers will prove these 4 requirements.

SB1569, passed in 2024, gives little option to people without these documents. It takes effect AFTER the November 2024 election. Consult the Secretary of State for guidance.

You may register with a specific party, or you may leave party affiliation blank on the registration form. It is your choice. In New Hampshire we use the term “undeclared” for voters with no party affiliation.

In the next primary, if you registered with a party, you will be given a ballot for that party. If you did not register with a party, you may ask for a ballot for the party of your choice.

Yes. However, you may change back to “undeclared” at a special table before you leave the polling place. Or you may change your party at your town clerk’s office or a supervisors of the checklist meeting up to about 3 months before the next primary election.

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 documents with you to prove identity, age, citizenship, and where you live. If you register on Election Day you cannot be turned away or be 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

The preceding information is mostly based on information from the Attorney General’s office and the Elections page of the Secretary of State’s website, https://www.sos.nh.gov/elections

Voter registration and voting instructions from the Sec. of State’s office in Spanish (enspanol), in French (francais), and Mandarin Chinese. https://www.sos.nh.gov/multilingual-election-information

Voter registration etc. from AARP en espanol

Information about registering & voting in Arabic, French, Nepali, Portuguese, and Spanish are all now on the NH Voting Rights.org website here (the main landing page): https://www.nhvotingrights.org/

Voting in New Hampshire 2024:

This flier may be downloaded and reproduced without alteration by any group working to increase the public’s interest in voting. It is a non-partisan guide to voter registration and casting a ballot. Download the pdf here. 

Voting info for released felons and others incarcerated. Download the info from the ACLU-NH here.

Candidates’ information from Citizens Count NH website.

The Secretary of State webpage about voter registration: Click here.