Laconia city clerk, secretary of state provide update to voters on election law changes

LACONIA — New Hampshire Secretary of State David M. Scanlan and Laconia City Clerk Katie Gargano remind Laconia voters and individuals who qualify to register by absentee or to vote absentee of important election law changes that took effect on Sept. 30. 

Any individual registering to vote by absentee for a qualified reason must provide proof of their U.S. citizenship and age in addition to domicile and identity with their registration application. Individuals in New Hampshire can register to vote by absentee due to temporary absence or physical disability.

Absentee voting changes 

If sending their absentee ballot request by mail, the voter must include a copy of their photo identification or a notarized signature on their absentee ballot application form. If the voter is obtaining their absentee ballot in person, they must show their city or town clerk photo identification (digital proof is also accepted) or a notarized signature on their absentee ballot application form.  

The deadlines to request absentee ballots remain the same. Voters must request their absentee ballots by 5 p.m. in person the day before an election or by noon the day before the election by mail or email.  

In-person delivery of absentee ballots 

Voters returning their absentee ballots to their local clerk in person no longer have to use the outer envelope to seal their properly completed affidavit envelope (which contains the ballot). The outer envelope is only required if the voter is returning their absentee ballot by mail.   

Time for requesting absentee ballots 

Effective Aug. 1, clerks can only accept absentee ballot requests postmarked or received within six months of the election for which they are being requested. This change does not apply to New Hampshire voters who live overseas or serve in the military and vote absentee as UOCAVA voters. 

Registering to vote

To register to vote in Laconia, an individual must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old by the date of the election, and have their primary residence (domicile) in the Laconia city ward they wish to register in.  

When registering, individuals will need to prove their age, identity, U.S. citizenship and domicile. A list of acceptable documents individuals can use when registering to vote can be found in the Secretary of State’s “Registering to Vote in NH” document, which is posted on sos.nh.gov/elections/register-vote. 

Registered voters must prove their identity at the polls on election day to receive a ballot. Most do so by showing a qualified photo ID such as a driver’s license or non-driver ID.

Residents should reach out to the Laconia City Clerk at 603-527-1265 for registration deadlines and any other questions related to the upcoming Municipal General Election, which takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 4.