How to Vote by Absentee Ballot in New Hampshire
Vote-by-mail absentee ballots have been used in New Hampshire since 1775, and 7-10% of ballots cast in NH elections are by absentee ballot. Absentee ballots are traditionally used when the voter will be out of state or far away from their town, on religious holidays, and other reasons specified below. There are two applications, one for town elections, and another for state and federal elections. For any questions specific to your town, your city or town clerk is the primary election officials dealing with absentee ballots.
Those issues which pertain specifically to absentee voting during the Covid 19 pandemic are listed in dark red, below.
Voting by Absentee Ballot in NH - Normal Circumstances
Hampshire may apply for an absentee ballot with only one of four official "excuses." - Physical disability (and for 2020, concern with COVID-19)
- Religious observance
- Absence from City on day of election
- Employment obligations. For the purpose of absentee voting, the term "employment" shall include the care of children and infirm adults, with or without compensation.
Voting by Absentee Ballot in NH - Voting in 2020 Elections with"Physical Disability" OR "Concern with Covid 19" excuse
With municipal elections this spring, a state primary on September 8, 2020 and the general election on November 3, 2020, we are urging voters who have concerns about voting in person to vote by mail with an absentee ballot.
On April 10, 2020, the Secretary of State and Attorney General of NH issued issued a statement allowing any voter with a concern of COVID-19 to vote by absentee using the "physical disability" excuse in 2020.
Then with an action by the NH legislature, and signed by Gov. Sununu, this was updated on July 18, 2020 with an amended absentee ballot form, at right. This is now the current form you should use.
Hate to give you bad news, but I did find broken links on your page as well. In the paragraph “if you have further questions” your link to “voting during the COVID-19 state of emergency” is broken, probably due to the revision of the SOS website. Same broken link later in the paragraph “get an application online”.
Here's the a portion of the April statement allowing the absentee ballot to be used for concerns with COVID-19
"With respect to any upcoming municipal elections, we offer the following guidance as to who is eligible to vote by absentee ballot in light of the current public health crisis. As explained below, in light of the current public health state of emergency, Emergency Orders #16 and #26, and current public health guidance on social distancing and avoiding being in public in groups of 10 or more, all voters have a reasonable ground to conclude that a "physical disability" exists within the meaning of RSA 657:1. Therefore,all voters may request an absentee ballot on that basis." To read the entire memorandum, [click here.]
Subsequent statements by the Secretary of State William Gardner and Governor Sununu clarified that for the duration of 2020, any registered voter wishing to receive an absentee ballot for a municipal, state or federal election could get one. In mid-May, the Secretary of State also clarified that voters with Covid 19 concerns may also register to vote by mail. Call your local town clerk's office for more information on on what copies of documents and identification will be necessary, or check "no" answering whether you are a registered voter on the absentee ballot request application, and a voter registration application will be sent to you.
If you have concerns about voting in person during the Covid-19 emergency, we recommend you request your absentee ballot immediately. Don't wait until September; you can fill out and send your application for September and November. This will aid the town clerk and election workers in processing an unprecedented number of ballots. Your ballot won't arrive until a few weeks prior to the election.
If you filled out and sent in the previous NH Absentee Ballot Application for 2020 Elections . . .
If you have already filled out the previous form, applying for absentee ballots for September 8 and November 3 with two forms, you DO NOT have to fill out the new July 2020 form. Your previous application, where you checked the "disability" excuse still qualifies you to receive your ballots.
If you have further questions
If you have further questions about voting by absentee, visit the Secretary of State web page created in June with COVID-related information, Voting During the COVID-19 State of Emergency or contact your local town or city clerk.
Requesting an Absentee Ballot Application in NH
Requests for absentee ballots must:
- Be made by filling out an official absentee ballot request form
- Requesting a minimum of 10 days in advance if you want it to be sent by mail
- Going directly to town hall on the Monday before election day before your clerk's office closes
- Made in writing with the request form, not by phone
- And contain your physical "wet" - as in ink - signature. Electronic signatures are not accepted by the State of New Hampshire for voting purposes.
- You may download and fill out your form electronically (with PDF software, for instance), but you must print out the form, and sign it in ink.
- Once you've signed the form, you can mail back the paper copy, or scan the document with your ink signature and fax or email it as an attachment.
- If you don't have a printer, request a paper absentee application from your town clerk.
Get an Application from Your Town Clerk You may get an application in person at your city or town clerk's office, or an application can be mailed to you or emailed as a PDF to you upon request. We have heard that some town clerks refuse to mail requests, and require you to come in person. This is not required and you are within your rights to request that it be mailed.
Get an Application Online For state & federal elections, you may find the 2020 Application for State Election Absentee Ballot at the official NH Secretary of State web page. This is a two-page application. Applications for absentee ballots for local elections will only be available at your town's website. There is also a new page at the Secretary of State's website called Voting During the COVID-19 State of Emergency and the 2020 absentee ballot application which contains a "concern for COVID-19 checkbox.
You may get an absentee ballot application at your Town or City Clerk's office until 5:00 P.M. on the day before election day. To get an absentee ballot for state and federal elections by mail, fill out and mail or fax the official absentee ballot application well in advance of the election to your town or city clerk's office. You are not required to have a photo ID to vote absentee.
While anyone may return another voter’s absentee ballot application, it’s important to know that absentee ballots can only be handed to the voter or mailed to the voter. Election officials are unable to hand your ballot to anyone else, regardless of their relation to you. Why only you? New Hampshire Law 657:15 specifies that it must either be mailed to or personally delivered to the applicant.
For uniformed service members who vote (UOCAVA) in NH elections, there is a separate Federal Post Card Application for Voter Registration and Absentee Ballot Request (FPCA) form you should use to request a ballot. This is a two-page application.
Get Involved in the Electoral Process - Be an Election Official
What better way to be involved in the integrity of our electoral system than becoming an election official in your community! These positions range from a Supervisor of the Checklist, which require a day-long commitment on election day and town meeting, and occasional preparatory meetings throughout the rest of the year, to Town or City Clerk, which are often part time or full time paid positions. Please NOTE this might be different in your town or city.
Local Election Official Job Descriptions
Supervisor of the Checklist
- Determine if an applicant is legally qualified to vote,
- Update the Checklist of registered voters with new voter registrations and any status changes,
- Maintain and update the voter files,
- Attend periodic training sessions held in Concord,
- Hold periodic mandatory supervisor sessions and post notices in advance, and
- Educate voters about any changes to voting procedure or law. On Election Day, supervisors are to be present before, during and after elections to set up, register voters, facilitate party changes, do data entry, and tally numbers required by the Secy. of State’s Office. Following an election, supervisors enter any new voter applications and status changes into the database and scan checklists to record voter history.
City Clerks
● City Clerks are appointed by City Council and are typically paid positions
● The mission of the City Clerk's Office is to efficiently meet all statutory obligations with respect to elections, vital records, and City Council.
● The City Clerk's Office is responsible for the preservation and management of all vital events occurring within the city. Those vital events include births, marriages, and deaths. In addition to vital records, the office records all official documents of the city.
● The office conducts and preserves the integrity of all local, state, and federal elections.
● The office is responsible for the preparation of all City Council agendas, minutes, and official
notices.
Town Clerks
● All Town Clerks are Elected for a one year or three year term, depending upon which option the town voted to enact, and must live within the town in which they serve. These are typically paid positions.
● The Town Clerk appoints the Deputy Town Clerk and the appointment is subject to approval of the Selectmen.
● The Deputy Town Clerk must also be a resident of the town and able to perform all the duties of the Town Clerk
● The Town Clerk is the chief election official, is responsible for keeping all town records, certifying actions of the Selectmen and other town officials, making official reports, collecting fees, carrying out specific mandated laws and many other municipal related duties.
Supervisors of the Checklist
Three Supervisors of the Checklist are elected with staggered terms of six years to serve the voters.
● Duties include:
○ Determining if an applicant is legally qualified to vote,
○ Updating the Checklist of registered voters with new voter registrations and any status changes
○ Maintaining and updating the voter files
○ Attending periodic training sessions held in Concord
○ Holding periodic mandatory supervisor sessions and post notices in advance, and
○ Educating voters about any changes to voting procedure or law.
● On Election Day, supervisors are to be present before, during and after elections to set up, register voters, facilitate party changes, do data entry, and tally numbers required by the Secy. of State’s Office.
● Following an election, supervisors enter any new voter applications and status changes into the database and scan checklists to record voter history.
Moderators
● Elected for a two year term at the annual meeting, in towns every even numbered year, in
cities every other regular city election.
● The moderator is the chief election officer in charge of the polls at the ward level.
● The moderator is under the direction of the city clerk who is the city’s chief election officer.
● It is the responsibility of the moderator to make certain that all the election officers are available on the day of the election and that each is familiar with their respective duties for the day.
● The moderator is required to have the polling place open and ready to accept voters at the prescribed time
● During the election day, the moderator is charged with maintaining order at the polling place and ensuring that proper documentation is posted
● In towns, moderators also run the town meeting. They stand at the front of the room, welcome voters, and explain meeting protocols
Selectmen
• Town Selectman: Elected for a three year term at the annual meeting.
• Ward Selectmen: Elected for two-year terms at the biennial municipal election, every odd-numbered year.
• There are three elected selectmen per ward.
• The selectmen may be responsible for choosing the polling place. They report directly to the moderator.
• Their primary duty is to maintain the checklist and to aid the voters in the election process.
• They must be signatories on warrants and most of the election reports and are, therefore, responsible for the proper counting of the election results (including tallies and absentee counting) and providing the Ward or Town Clerk with their results.
• They are responsible for the orderly flow of voters through the polling place and to ensure that the
polls are open and functioning properly.
• They are also responsible for making appointments of ballot inspectors if the two major parties fail
to appoint within the required timeframe.
Ward Clerks
• Elected for a two-year term at the biennial municipal election, every odd-numbered year.
• The ward clerk reports to the moderator.
• The primary duty of the clerk shall be to administer and prepare the documentation required at the polling place. This includes not only the election return and tally sheets and associated reports, but will also include such documentation as poll workers time sheets, payroll records, W-4 forms, etc.
• The ward clerk must pick up the ward supplies and documentation package at the city clerk’s office before reporting to the polling place.
• The ward clerk shall also aid any voters who may need assistance in the polling area. The clerk will assist the moderator in the course of managing the polling place.
• Other duties require the clerk, at the direction of the city clerk and the Secretary of State, to require the selectmen to sign and post warrants announcing the upcoming election.
Ballot Inspector/ Ballot Clerk
Ballot Inspectors (also known as Ballot Clerks) are community members just like you interested in maintaining the integrity of our elections. As a Ballot Inspector, you would serve in one of the many roles needed at the polls - marking the checklist, handing out ballots, helping voters in need at the ballot booths, receiving ballots at the box, and more. These positions are two year terms, serve for all state and local elections, and come with a small monetary stipend for your service.
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Advisory Council
Carol Shea-Porter, Chair. - former member of Congress (D-NH); politics and history teacher; founder of a non-profit social service agency
John Broderick – former Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court; former Executive Director of the Rudman Center at University of New Hampshire Law School
Brad Cook – partner and past President of Sheehan Phinney Law Firm; Chair of the New Hampshire Ballot Law Commission
Lew Feldstein – past President of the NH Charitable Foundation; co-author of Better Together: Restoring the American Community
Paul Hodes – former member of Congress (D-NH); attorney; member, National Council on the Arts; founder of the Economic Innovation Institute
Joe Magruder – former News Editor, Associated Press of New Hampshire
Lillye Ramos Spooner – Director of Operations for Greater Manchester AIDS Project; former member of the NH Commission on the Status of Women
Stephen Reno – Executive Director of Leadership New Hampshire; former Chancellor of the University System of New Hampshire
John Rauh – former President of Americans for Campaign Reform, now part of Issue One; former Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate
Jim Rubens – entrepreneur; former Republican candidate for U.S. Senate; former New Hampshire state Senator
Betty Tamposi, Assistant Secretary of State under George H.W. Bush; as a state Representative, was Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee; former member of the Board of Governors of the University of New Hampshire
Dan Weeks - co-owner of ReVision Energy; former Executive Director of Open Democracy
** Affiliations listed for identification purposes only. Advisory Board members serve in their individual capacities.
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Are you ready to vote?
Have you planned how you're going to vote safely on September 8 in NH's state primary? You have options if you act quickly.
If you have had an absentee ballot sent to you already -- Mail it back by Monday, August 24 to allow for slower postal delivery and processing by your town clerk.
If you have not requested your absentee ballot, download it https://sos.nh.gov/media/rs0ly4xu/absentee-ballot-app-8-20-covid.pdf and hand-deliver the application to your town clerk. When you hand it in, consider asking for the ballot at that time to fill it out and turn it back in. Check your town clerk's hours.
For you last-minute folks: This year only, you CAN return your ballot to town or city hall yourself ON election day. Usually you cannot. Clerks offices will be open on Sept. 7, Labor Day for limited hours the day before, but check for hour. OR you can stop procrastinating return it in person now!
If you haven't registered to vote, there's still time, but do this in person at the town clerk's office, or in person at the polls on election day. You'll need and ID and proof of your "domicile." Call your clerk for details.
If you aren't able to take those steps, vote in person on September 8, wear a mask, and sanitize before you go in and out.
No matter how you vote, VOTE! Your vote is your voice, and you need to use it!
