In recent years the NH Legislature has made several changes related to the voting process. Voting is an important way each of us can participate in choices that directly affect us. Widespread participation in elections is vital for healthy democracies. Keep reading to better understand changes and prepare yourself to vote on November 3!
First, towns cleaned up voter rolls this past summer. Infrequent voters, people who have moved, or people with special circumstances like having their home put in a trust were taken off. Please check at your town hall or at the Secretary of State’s website to see if you are still on the voting rolls!
For people that need to register to vote, you’ll need to show documents to prove your identity, age, citizenship and physical address of where you live. A drivers license or passport will cover most of these categories. People can also sign an affidavit if needed regarding citizenship. If you have changed your name, you’ll need to show the evolution of your name through documentation.
You can register ahead of time at your town or city hall, or day of at the polls.
If you are a high school or college student, you’ll need a government issued photo ID. Student IDs are no longer allowed to prove identity.
If you plan to vote absentee, you need to prove your identity through sharing a government issued photo ID in person, enclosing a copy of your photo ID with your ballot, or through having a notary verify your identity. Expired driver’s licenses & passports may be used for ID up to 5 years after expiration for under 65, and no limit for 65-plus.
Next, is deciding who to vote for! Citizens Count and Engaged Citizens of Hillsborough County both are good non-partisian platforms for candidate research.
The Secretary of State website is a good resource for election information and has sample ballots.
Finally, when you go to vote on November 3, bring your government issued photo ID to prove your identity.
It may take a beat to get yourself organized, but it’s worth it! See you at the polls on November 3.
Good Luck! For more information on GSOP visit:
http://www.granitestateorganizing.org
William L. Glenn, Jr. - Volunteer For Granite State Organizing Project/Souhegan Vallley Chapter
