Voting in New Hampshire

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Voters can only vote absentee/by mail in New Hampshire with an approved excuse. Approved excuses include: being absent from the voter’s city or town, a religious observance, disability or illness, and employment commitments (including caregiving) during the entire time the polls are open.

New Hampshire does not offer early voting.

New Hampshire has semi-open primaries. Undeclared voters can choose to vote in either primary. 17-year-olds cannot vote in the primary election even if they will be 18 by the corresponding general election.

Photo ID is required to vote in New Hampshire. Valid forms of ID include:
- Driver’s license issued by any state or federal government
- Non-driver ID card issued by NH DMV or motor vehicle agency of another state
- Photo ID card for “voting identification only” issued by NH DMV (RSA 260:21)
- United States armed services identification card
- United States passport or passcard
- NH student ID card (see more information below about acceptable student ID)
- A photo ID not mentioned above, but determined to be legitimate by the moderator, supervisors of the checklist, or clerk of a town, ward or city. If any person authorized to challenge a voter does so under this provision, the voter shall be required to fill out a challenged voter affidavit before obtaining a ballot.
- Verification of the voter’s identity by a moderator or supervisor of the checklist or clerk of a town, ward or city (not a ballot clerk). If any person authorized to challenge a voter does so under this provision, the voter shall be required to fill out a challenged voter affidavit before obtaining a ballot.


An acceptable photo ID must have an expiration date or date of issuance. The ID will remain valid 5 years beyond the expiration date unless the voter is 65 or older in which case an acceptable photo ID may be used without regard to expiration date. The name on the ID shall substantially conform to the name on the checklist.

Acceptable student photo ID cards must be issued by:
- A college, university, or career school approved or licensed to operate in New Hampshire
- A public high school in New Hampshire
- A non-public high school in New Hampshire accredited by a private school accrediting agency that is recognized by the NH Department of Education
- Dartmouth College
- A college or university operated by the university system of New Hampshire or the community college system of New Hampshire

All student ID cards must have an issuance or expiration date that has not been exceeded by more than 5 years. Each August the Commissioner of the Department of Education will provide to the Secretary of State a list of all approved, licensed, and accredited schools from which a student ID is acceptable.

If you do not have an approved form of ID, you may obtain a free photo ID for voting purposes only by presenting a voucher from your town/city clerk or the Secretary of State to any NH DMV office that issues identification. 

If you go to your polling place without an approved form of ID, you will be permitted to vote after signing a challenged voter affidavit. You will also have your photograph taken by an election official, and they will attach this photo to the signed affidavit. If you object to the photograph requirement for religious reasons, you can instead sign an additional affidavit of religious exemption. If you filled out a challenged voter affidavit in order to vote on Election Day, you will receive a verification letter from the Secretary of State requesting confirmation that you voted in the election. If you do not respond in writing to the Secretary of State within 30 days of the date it was mailed, the Attorney General will conduct an investigation to determine whether fraudulent voting occurred.