HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE

IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

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 where they live up to 10 days before any election. You may also register on election day at the polling place. The town clerk's office can inform voters of what proof of qualification they should bring to register.

There is no minimum period of time you are required to have lived in the state before being allowed to register.  You may register as soon as you move into your new community.

HOW TO REGISTER
1) Apply to your town or city clerk's office.  You will be required to fill out a standard voter registration form and will be required to show proof of age, citizenship and domicile.
2)  It may be easier for you to 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 date and time of such meeting.
3)  Qualified individuals may also register to vote at the polling place on election day at all elections.  You will be asked to show proof of age, citizenship, and domicile.

ABSENTEE REGISTRATION
If you meet the state's voter requirements and qualifications and are unable to register in person because of physical disability, religious beliefs, military service, or because of temporary absence, you may register by mail.  You should request an absentee voter registration affidavit and a standard voter registration form from your town/city clerk.  The absentee voter registration affidavit must be witnessed and then both the affidavit and the voter registration form are to be returned to your town/city clerk.

COLLEGE STUDENTS
If you are a student attending college in New Hampshire, please click here for additional information.

OVERSEAS CITIZENS
Any person who is domiciled outside the United States has the right to register and vote absentee in any federal election (President, United States Senator, United States Representative) in the town or city in New Hampshire in which they had their domicile immediately prior to their departure from the United States, even though the person no longer maintains a domicile in said city or town and even though their intent to return is uncertain.

ARMED SERVICES
An armed service voter may apply for an absentee ballot from the town/city clerk of the town in which he/she was domiciled immediately prior to entering the service.   Armed service voters are eligible to vote for all offices.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS
Absentee ballots are available from your town or city clerk 30 days prior to an election.  Request the absentee ballot application from the clerk or submit a request in writing which should include your name, voting address, mailing address and your signature.  Clerks may accept completed absentee ballots submitted in person until 5:00 p.m. the day before an election or until 5:00 p.m. on election day if received through the mail.

POLITICAL PARTIES
When registering to vote, you will not be required to register as a member of a political party (republican or democratic) -- you may register as an undeclared voter.  However, while all registered voters are allowed to vote in a general election, only party members can vote in a primary election. Voters should be aware of their party status before a primary election.  If you voted on a party ballot in the 2002 state primary, you are now a registered member of that party unless you filled out a card to return to undeclared status with the supervisors of the checklist.

If you are unsure of your party affiliation,  you should contact your town or city clerk, as they have the records of party membership. Or, if you are a party member and wish to change your registration status, initiate such a change by taking one of the following steps:

Presidential Primary
The last day to change your party affiliation for the 2004 Presidential Primary is October 31, 2003 with your supervisors of the checklist. Supervisors are required by law to meet on that date at least between 7:00 and 7:30 p.m. Click here to view press release.

State Primary
1)    Meet with the Supervisors of the Checklist no later than June 1, 2004 -- the last day to change your political party and still be eligible to vote in the state primary election, or register the change with your town or city clerk by that date.  This is the last day to register to vote if you wish to file as a candidate for the state primary election.

2)    If you are a registered member of a party, you may change your registration at any primary, however, you will not be allowed to vote in that primary.   Undeclared voters may declare a party and vote at any primary.  The law allows an undeclared voter to declare a party at the polls, vote the ballot of that party, and then change their party affiliation back to undeclared simply by completing the form available from the Supervisors of the Checklist at the polling place.

VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINES

October 31, 2003         Last day to change party affiliation prior to the Presidential
                                      Primary Election
June 1, 2004                 Last day to change your party affiliation and still vote in the
                                      State Primary Election.
September 7, 2004        Last day to register to vote before Primary Election Day.
September 14, 2004      STATE PRIMARY ELECTION DAY- Unregistered voters
                                       may register and vote  on this day.
October 23, 2004          Last day to register to vote until the General Election.
November 2, 2004        GENERAL ELECTION DAY-  Unregistered voters may
                                       register and vote on this day.

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