Preparing to hit the polls: Secretary of state helps voters get ready

CONCORD — The Primary Election is Tuesday, Sept. 8, and Secretary of State David Scanlan wants voters to be prepared as they head out to the polls.

“If you are a new voter registering for the first time, it’s best to know what items to bring to prove your qualifications, and those can all be found on the secretary of state website, and your town clerk’s office,” Scanlan said in an interview.

Frequently asked voting questions

Scanlan said all information needed about polling locations and what to bring is located on the secretary of state website at sos.nh.gov. Voters can even look up their registration status. 

“It is highly recommended that voters do that,” Scanlan said. “It will make sure that, No. 1, you’re registered to vote. No. 2, it will tell you the party you’re registered in.”

According to the website, all voters are required to bring proof of identification to the polls.

This includes a driver’s license; non-driver’s ID card; a photo ID card for “voting identification only” issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles; a United States armed services card; or a United States passport or passcard.

Photo ID requires an expiration date or date of issuance, and will remain valid for voting purposes five years after. The expiration date does not apply to voters aged 65 or older.

Registered voters don’t need proof of age, domicile, or U.S. citizenship, but it is needed when registering.

Voter identity can also be verified by a moderator or election official, but not a ballot clerk.

In the past, students were able to use their school ID to vote, but this is no longer the case. Scanlan said this is being challenged in court, and in the meantime, students must come prepared with another form of identification, like a driver’s license, non-driver’s ID, or passport.

Voter ID, registration

In 2024, HB 1569 changed how voters need to register, with documentation required to prove identity, age, domicile and citizenship. However, in May, a federal judge ruled proving citizenship was unconstitutional, according to a release from the American Civil Liberties Union.

The judge’s ruling came after a lawsuit filed by the ACLU of New Hampshire and Ropes & Grey LLP, on behalf of the League of Women Voters of New Hampshire, the Coalition of Open Democracy, and The Forward Foundation. The court found the law in violation of the First and 14th amendments of the U.S. Constitution.

Scanlan said the judge ordered that for someone to prove citizenship, a voter affidavit needs to be offered if they don’t have documentation.

Scanlan said some groups claim the new law is problematic. He said polls have required presenting a photo ID since 2012, and the number of people who don’t is hovering around 1%.

The law requiring proof of citizenship has been in effect for two rounds of local elections, but this will be the first time for a state election.

“I think it has been going smoothly,” Scanlan said.

He said most voters have been prepared with documentation, but the polls are ready, just in case.

“Some voters don’t have any, and resources have been put in place for my office to address voters who show up without documentation to verify on the spot,” Scanlan said.

Resources include accessing limited information from the DMV to produce names, home addresses and citizenship. Another option is looking at the Division of Vital Records, for birth certificates and name changes.

“If a new voter has had vital events happen in New Hampshire, that information should be available to them to verify documentation,” Scanlan said.

If someone were to move to New Hampshire full time on the day of the election, they can still go to the polls and register to vote. When they do, they can use an out-of-state driver’s license or government identification.

A document to show where someone lives would be a deed, rental lease or something to establish a physical presence at the address.

If someone has voted in New Hampshire before, in another town or city, they need to register to vote in the new community. Since the voter is already in the state database, they just need to prove identity and the new residence at the poll.

Absentee ballots

In New Hampshire, voting with an absentee ballot is available, with a legitimate reason. This includes for disability or illness, according to the state constitution. Scanlan said there are other situations where voters can cast an absentee ballot.

“The Legislature has expanded on that, and included religious observances and caretakers,” Scanlan said.

Caretakers include parents at home with children who cannot get to the polls, or a doctor or nurse working when polls are open. He also said someone caring for an adult with a disability is a caretaker.

“Those are forms of absence or disability, and valid reasons to vote by absentee ballot,” he said.

When someone applies for an absentee ballot, state law now requires sending along a copy of a driver’s license, or having the application notarized to confirm the voter’s identity. Scanlan recommends voters go to their town or city clerk in advance of the election to submit the absentee ballot application and show their identity.

Scanlan also said it seems like in every election, the U.S. Postal Service delivers mail slowly, so he highly recommends not waiting until the last minute. Absentee ballots should be requested at least a week before the election.

Electronic poll books and ballot counters

Many communities are using electronic poll books, which are conditionally approved for use, but not certified yet. Scanlan said they can be used, as long as the polling place maintains a paper checklist parallel with the electronic book.

“It is a significant precaution to take in the event that there is a poll book failure,” Scanlan said. “It’s not across the board, but more and more are coming into use.”

Scanlan said the benefits of electronic poll books are for locations with high volume, where they would shorten lines and speed up the process.

“At the end of the night, when it is time to close the polls, they can hit a couple key strokes and the number of voters pop up,” Scanlan said. “The manual count is done eventually, but it saves a lot of time when the moderator is trying to reconcile numbers at the end of the night."

The electronic poll books are not a state mandate, but rather a local option.

The same is true for electronic ballot devices. Two devices were recently approved by the state’s ballot law commission. They use digital scan technology and capture an image of every ballot.

“They are not tied to the voter, but it opens opportunities for post-election audits,” he said. “It is a really important check and balance.”

One of the ballot counting devices is made by Voting Works and uses open source software. Scanlan said the code used in the program is public, so anyone with the technical ability and desire can check and see if it was properly programmed.

The other device is from Liberty Vote, which bought out Dominion Voting Systems. Scanlan said this one uses proprietary software.

Scanlan heard positive feedback about the use of the new technology, but it can take a lot for local election workers to get up to speed. He said it will get easier over time. Scanlan said until recently, polls were using AccuVote machines which were decades old and prone to breaking down. Parts were no longer being manufactured for them.

“The transition was inevitable,” Scanlan said. “Everyone is realizing the benefits of it.”

Exercise the right to vote

Scanlan said it's an important part of democracy to hit the polls and cast a ballot for state and federal leaders. After the state Primary Election Tuesday, Sept. 8, the General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 3. He urges voters to be informed.

“Make a plan to vote and research the candidates,” Scanlan said. “The important thing is to turn out and exercise this important right to vote.”