State: Voting in New Hampshire is quite simple

Voters going to polls for the mid-term elections next week will find little change from previous elections, according to Assistant Secretary of State David Scanlan.

Some people have worried that there might be confusion at the polls, due to two court rulings last week, the first of which placed an injunction on the new domicile requirements included in Senate Bill 3. Hillsborough County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Brown found that the requirement could disenfranchise voters who showed up to vote without the required documents.

The state Supreme Court subsequently lifted the injunction for the Nov. 6 election, ruling that imposing it so close to the election runs a "substantial risk of confusion and disruption." The court stressed that it was not issuing an opinion on the validity of the law, and said Brown’s injunction could take effect after the Nov. 6 election.

“We encourage voters to show up and vote,” Scanlan emphasized.

“Voting in New Hampshire is quite simple. When you go to the polls, if you need to register, you will need to provide information on your identity, age, citizenship, and domicile. All of that information is on your driver’s license.”

For those without a license, the Secretary of State’s Office has provided local election officials with a document they can hand out to voters, listing the type of documents that would be acceptable proof, Scanlan said, noting, “It’s not an exclusive list, so the voter could provide other forms of proof that would be acceptable.”

He said it would be up to the supervisors of the checklist to determine what documents would satisfy the requirements.

“Even if you don’t have the documents to prove any of those items, if qualified, you’ll still be able to register and vote by filling out information on the voter registration form,” Scanlan said.

Voters who have the required documents need to fill out only the first page of the form. Those without documentation will have to go to the second page, which contains an affidavit swearing that the information they are providing is true.

Proof of domicile

The list of possible methods to prove residency include showing an established residency at an institute of learning; having rented or leased an abode for at least 30 days prior to the election; purchased an abode at the address listed on the registration form; obtaining a driver’s license that lists the address on the registration form; having enrolled a dependent minor child in a public school serving the town or ward where the registrant resides; showing the address on state or federal tax forms, or other governmental forms; having the registrant’s address on a postal service form as a permanent address; public utility bills; or having arranged with a homeless shelter or similar service provider to receive mail on the registrant’s behalf.

The form allows other forms of proof of “verifiable action or actions you have taken to make the address listed on your voter registration form your one voting domicile.”

“Local election officials have been extensively trained” on what is needed to establish voters’ eligibility to cast ballots, Scanlan said.

There are provisions in the law for the state to follow up and verify the information on the voter registration forms.

“As long as the information is true, they have nothing to worry about,” Scanlan said.

At the polls

Local town clerks do not see a problem with the new domicile requirement, which already was in place for the primary.

Gilford Town Clerk Denise Gonyer said the town added more check-in clerks two years ago, and for Tuesday’s election there will be six lines instead of four, so she does not anticipate any delays due to late registrants.

With around 4,000 voters taking part in the last election, Gonyer said she expects a good turnout this time as well, noting that she already has almost 350 absentee ballots out.

“I don’t see any abnormalities at all,” Gonyer said as she looks ahead to Tuesday’s vote.

Belmont Town Clerk Cynthia DeRoy was equally confident that there should be no problems at the polls. In fact, she pointed out, with fewer uncontested elections, tallying the count should be smoother for the ballot clerks because they will not have to deal with as many write-ins.

“I hope people will vote for their candidates, and not write in Mickey Mouse,” DeRoy said. “Write-ins are what usually cause delays.”

DeRoy said Belmont has 5,083 voters on the checklist, and she hopes for a 75 percent turnout on Tuesday. The town had received requests for 100 absentee ballots as of Monday, she said.

“I hope people will come out and vote, because it’s important,” she said. “I hope it will be a smooth day all around.”

Meredith Town Clerk Kerri Parker said the town does not expect any significant problems because it is so small.

“We expect a good turnout,” she said, noting that her office has sent out 250 absentee ballots so far.

City Clerk Cheryl Hebert said Laconia had 453 absentee ballot requests as of mid-day Monday, while there were 470 absentee ballots for the presidential election two years ago. She expects this election to be on a par with those numbers.

She urges people to come to the polls with their IDs ready, and said those who have never registered before should bring mail with their current address, along with a license or passport.

“Follow what the people tell you at the election place,” she advised.

Absentee ballots

For those who cannot make it to the polls on election day, absentee ballots are available right up to the end of the day prior to the vote.

To qualify for an absentee ballot, voters must certify that:
• They will be absent from the town or city on election day;

• They cannot appear because of a religious commitment;

• They cannot appear during polling hours because of employment obligations or military service;

• They are a victim of domestic violence or have an active protective order; or

• They are providing emergency services.

After Jan. 1, 2019, there will be provisions for voting a day early when the National Weather Service issues a winter storm warning, blizzard warning, or ice storm warning for election day, providing the voter is elderly, infirm, or has a physical disability that may pose a safety issue; or the voter is caring for children or infirm adults in need of care.

A voter who is blind or has a disability can have someone assist in filling out the absentee ballot, but must sign a statement acknowledging the assistance.

Once the ballot is complete, it must be sealed in an affidavit envelope, and on the outside of the envelope, the voter certifies that he or she meets one of the requirements for submitting an absentee ballot.

The ballot must be received by 5 p.m. on election day in order to be counted.