NASHUA, N.H. - Wednesday marked the beginning of the filing period for this year’s state elections. Candidates lined up early in city hall, as the Nashua city clerk’s office opened so they could file their declaration of candidacy forms. Candidates have until Friday May 12, to file, and this year they have the option to file in the towns or at the New Hampshire secretary of state’s office in Concord. The primary election is being held on Sept. 8, and the general election will be held on Nov. 3.
June 2 was the last day to change party affiliation to be able to vote in the primary. NH operates a party primary system, so voters get a Republican or Democratic ballot depending on their declared party affiliation. Undeclared primary voters must choose a party on Election Day to receive a ballot, and then after voting they can change back to undeclared.
City Clerk Daniel Healey and his team processed the paperwork for a few dozen candidates who were eager to file the first morning.
To prepare for the primary, Healey said, “The most important thing is for voters to check their registration. They can do that through the Secretary of State's website. They key in their first, last name and birth date, and they can see if they are still registered if they haven't voted in a few years. That is how they can check their party affiliation.”
Healey also wanted voters to be aware of a recent federal court ruling that now allows for QVAs. “It's a qualified voter affidavit for someone who is missing proof of identity, age, or citizenship,” he said.
“A judge is now allowing that affidavit to be used for citizenship,” Healey said. “Anyone coming to register to vote, if they don't have a birth certificate, passport can use the QVA to satisfy that requirement.”
This week a Federal Court in New Hampshire declared HB 1569 unconstitutional. The law, enacted in 2024, was considered one of the strictest voter registration laws in the country and required documentary proof of citizenship. According to the court, the law made fundamental changes to state election law that were in violation of the First and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.
The secretary of state’s office is posting daily cumulative filing records, filings by party and reports for individual towns. To follow the candidate’s filings, visit: https://www.sos.nh.gov/2026-election-details
