Voter
Registration Frequently Asked Questions
You should know...
•You must register
to vote 10 days before the election or at the polls on election day.
•You can
select party affiliation at the polls.
•You can
register to vote in person or obtain a mail-in application from:
City/Town clerks office
Division of motor vehicles offices
Aid to families with dependent children (AFDC) offices
Medicaid offices
Food stamps offices
Women, infants and children (WIC) benefits offices
Agencies that provide services to people with disabilities
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Who
Can Absentee Vote in New Hampshire?
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How Can I Acquire an Absentee Ballot?
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How do I Return the Absentee Ballot and What
is the Deadline?
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What other information do I need to know
about Absentee Voting in New Hampshire?
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Am I
eligible to register and to vote?
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How can I register?
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Where can I find the registration form?
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When can I register?
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Does it
cost anything to register?
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Am I registered once I fill out and mail the
registration form?
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Do I ever
have to re-register?
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What if I move right before the election?
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Will I remain a registered voter even if I fail to
vote?
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Can I
register for someone else?
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Do I have to choose a political party
in order to register and to vote?
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What is a
political party?
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How do I
join a political party?
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If I declare a party of preference when I register,
can I change later?
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Am I required to work for the party or contribute
money to it?
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Where will I vote?
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What if my polling place is not accessible to the
disabled?
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When are the polls
open?
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Can I vote by mail?
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Do I need identification when I go to vote?
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How long may I stay in the polling booth?
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What
if I make a mistake on my ballot?
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What will I be
voting on?
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How do I vote?
Any person who meets one of the following
criteria may vote absentee:
- Voter is absent on the day of any state election from the city, town or
unincorporated place in which he/she is registered to vote
- Voter cannot appear in public on any election day because of the observance of
a religious commitment
- Voter is unable to vote in person by reason of physical disability
Absentee ballots are available from the town
or city clerk 30 days prior to an election. Those wishing to vote absentee
should request an absentee ballot application from the secretary of state or any
town or city clerk. The applicant must submit either a completed application
form or a written request including his/her name, voting address, mailing
address and signature to the clerk of the town or city in which he/she desires
to vote.
There is no specific deadline for applying for an absentee ballot, but the voter
must allow time for the ballot to be sent out and returned to the clerk by the
deadline.
Franklin City Clerk's office is located
in Franklin City Hall, 316 Central Street, Franklin, NH 03235 603-934-3109.
Voters who are either qualified to vote absentee or are disabled may vote an
absentee ballot in person at their town or city clerk's office no earlier than
30 days before an election and no later than the day before the election.
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How do I
Return the Absentee Ballot and What is the Deadline?
Clerks may accept completed absentee ballots
submitted in person until 5 p.m. the day before an election or until 5 p.m. on
election day if received through the mail.
Franklin City Clerk's office is located in Franklin City
Hall, 316 Central Street, Franklin, NH 03235 603-934-3109.
Overseas Citizens: Any person who is
domiciled in Canada or Mexico or in any other country outside the continental
United States has the right to register and vote absentee in any federal
election (President, United States Senator, United States Representative) in the
town or city in New Hampshire in which they had their domicile immediately prior
to their departure from the United States, even though the person no longer
maintains a domicile in said city or town and even though their intent to return
is uncertain.
Armed Services: An armed service voter may apply for an absentee from the
town/city clerk of the town in which he/she was a resident immediately prior to
entering the service. Armed service voters are eligible to vote for all offices.
Source:
New Hampshire Elections Division/Administration
State House, Room 204
Concord, NH 03301
P: (603)271-3242
F: (603)271-6316
http://www.state.nh.us/sos/elections.htm
Yes, if you
are:
• a citizen of
the United States.
• a legal
resident of your state.
• at least 18
years old by election day.
• not in
prison, probation, parole, ex-felons–varies from state to state; check with your
City/County Elections Office).
• not declared
mentally incompetent by a court (varies, check with your City/County Elections
Office).
How can I register?
Fill out the
short voter registration-by-mail form on the Franklin City Clerk page. Sign the
form. Mail it or go online to
www.activoteamerica.com
Franklin
City Clerk's office is located in Franklin City Hall, 316 Central Street,
Franklin, NH 03235 603-934-3109.
Where can I find
the registration form?
Voter
registration forms are available at the post office, library, fire station,
Department of Motor Vehicles, welfare department, Registrar of Voters, and the
City/County Elections office. Also, many social service agencies have forms. In
addition, you can contact an acti-vote representative or log on to
www.activoteamerica.com.
Franklin
City Clerk's office is located in Franklin City Hall, 316 Central Street,
Franklin, NH 03235 603-934-3109.
When can I register?
Register
anytime, but be sure to do it by your state’s deadline if you want to vote in
the upcoming election.
Does it cost anything
to register?
No.
Registration is free.
Am I
registered once I fill out and mail the registration form?
No. You can’t
be sure you are registered until you get a voter notification card from the
county. If the notification card does not arrive within three weeks of mailing
your registration, call your Registrar of Voters or City/County Elections Office
and ask if you are registered?
Franklin
City Clerk's office is located in Franklin City Hall, 316 Central Street,
Franklin, NH 03235 603-934-3109.
Do I ever have to
re-register?
Yes. If you
move, change your name, want to change your political party, or have completed
all conditions of a felony charge, you must register again. Registration rules
and procedures for convicted felons vary by state (check with your City/County
Elections Office).
Franklin
City Clerk's office is located in Franklin City Hall, 316 Central Street,
Franklin, NH 03235 603-934-3109.
What if I move
right before the election?
You may vote by
returning to your former precinct or by requesting a vote-by-mail ballot.
Will I remain
a registered voter even if I fail to vote?
Yes.
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Can I register for
someone else?
No. You can
only register for yourself. However, you may help others fill out a form, but
they must sign the form.
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Do I have to choose a political party in order to register and to
vote?
No. You may
check the "decline to state" or independent box on the form if you do not wish
to belong to a political party.
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What is a political party?
A political
party is a group of individuals who try to determine public policy by organizing
to win elections and operate government.
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How do I join a
political party?
It is as simple
as checking the box for the political party of your choice on the registration
form. There are no requirements to join a political party.
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If I declare a party of preference when I register, can I change later?
Yes, you just have to re-register.
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Am I
required to work for the party or contribute money to it?
No.
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Where will I vote?
The address
will be on your registration card. Both should show whether the polling location
is accessible to the disabled. Polling places may change from one election to
another. It is important to go to the correct polling place because your name
will not be on the roster of voters anywhere else.
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What if my
polling place is not accessible to the disabled?
In most states,
you may vote by absentee ballot. Check with your local City/County Elections
office to learn what you should do. If you prefer to vote in person, get as
close to your polling place as you can and a precinct board member will bring
you a ballot for you to cast.
Franklin
City Clerk's office is located in Franklin City Hall, 316 Central Street,
Franklin, NH 03235 603-934-3109.
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When are the polls open?
The time polls
are open on election day varies by state. However, in Franklin, NH the hours
are from 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
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Can I vote by mail?
Contact your
City/County Elections Office for information on obtaining an absentee ballot and
about deadlines.
Franklin
City Clerk's office is located in Franklin City Hall, 316 Central Street,
Franklin, NH 03235 603-934-3109.
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Do I need
identification when I go to vote?
No. You will
just be asked to state your name and address and to sign the roster of voters.
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How long may
I stay in the polling booth?
Take your time.
Some states limit voting to ten minutes, but will extend that time if no other
voters are waiting. You may take your pre-marked Sample Ballot into the polling
place with you.
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What if I make a
mistake on my ballot?
You may request
another one.
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What will I be voting on?
We vote on two
types of things:
• People:
candidates who are running for elective office.
• Plans: ballot
measures that change local or state laws.
You do not have
to vote on everything. You can just vote on the things you care about.
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How do I vote?
• You will sign
your name on a list of all the voters in your area.
• You will be
given a ballot and you will enter a voting booth
• You will put
the ballot in the voting machine and mark your choices.
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