Did you know that you can now request your absentee ballot for both the State Primary on September 8 and the General Election on November 3?

It’s important to note that you must submit a separate absentee ballot request form for each election.

As you prepare, here are some recent absentee voting law changes to be aware of:

 Absentee Ballot Applications: New ID Verification Requirement

A new law (SB 287), which took effect on September 30, 2025, added an identity verification requirement for registered voters requesting absentee ballots. Voters must now complete one of the following:

• Mail a photocopy of their ID with the absentee ballot application, or

• Include a notarized signature on the mailed-in absentee ballot application, or

• Present an ID or a notarized signature in person to the town or city clerk (or their designee) before being issued an absentee ballot.

As part of our Age Strong Voting Program, Open Democracy recruits and works with dedicated volunteer notaries across much of the state. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you or someone you’re helping needs help accessing a notary. 

 Visit your town or city's website to download an absentee ballot application. You can use the Secretary of State's Voter Information Lookup page to track the status of your request, when your ballot is sent to you, and when the clerk has received your completed ballot.

Absentee Voter Registration: Documentary Proof of Citizenship Requirement 

Those registering to vote by absentee will be required to submit documentary proof of citizenship under SB 218, which aligns the in-person and absentee voter registration processes. 

To register to vote by absentee, you must include copies of documentation proving age, citizenship, identity, and domicile.

Here are some examples of documents you can use to prove each requirement: 

Age: driver’s license, government-issued photo-ID, passport

Citizenship*: birth certificate, passport, or naturalization papers

• AND marriage certificate or other applicable name change documents.

Identity: driver's license, government-issued photo ID, passport/passport card, naturalization papers, Free Photo ID card for “voting purposes only” issued by NH DMV

Domicile: government-issued photo ID with NH address, vehicle registration, government-issued check, benefit statement, or state/federal tax document

• You may also provide a lease or rental agreement, utility bill, property tax bill, or other reasonable documentation, and be required to sign an attestation form.

*If you were previously or are currently registered to vote in New Hampshire, you only have to prove identity and domicile and should not be required to prove age or citizenship.

 For a full list of acceptable documents, visit the Secretary of State's Register to Vote page.

 For help obtaining vital records (like birth certificates or marriage licenses), visit the Proof of Voter Registration Qualifications page.

If you qualify to register to vote by absentee, you can request the absentee voter registration affidavit and voter registration form from your town or city clerk. Note that the absentee voter registration affidavit must be witnessed. 

 Plan Ahead—Apply and Return Early

With these new requirements—and new policies affecting USPS delivery times—it’s more important than ever to request and return your absentee ballot as early as possible.

Unlike some states, New Hampshire does not have an absentee ballot grace period, meaning your completed ballot must be received by your clerk by Election Day to be counted.

Applying early gives you time to gather documents, complete any notarization requirements, and avoid last-minute issues with mail delivery.

If you think you may vote absentee this year, don’t wait—start the process now to ensure your vote is counted. And as always, feel free to reach out with any questions—we're happy to help!