Effective September 30: New Requirements for Absentee Voting and Absentee Registration

New Hampshire Secretary of State David M. Scanlan reminds voters and individuals who qualify to register or vote absentee of important election law changes taking effect on September 30, 2025.

Absentee Registration Changes

Effective September 30, any individual registering to vote by absentee for a qualified reason must provide proof of U.S. citizenship and age, in addition to proof of domicile and identity, with their registration application.

In New Hampshire, individuals may register to vote by absentee due to temporary absence or physical disability. More information about the process is available on the Secretary of State’s website.

Absentee Voting Changes

Effective September 30, registered voters who request an absentee ballot must show proof of identity to receive their ballot.

• By mail: Voters must include a copy of their photo identification or a notarized signature on their absentee ballot application form.

• In person: Voters must show photo identification to the city or town clerk (digital proof is also accepted) or provide 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 12 p.m. the day before an election if submitting the request by mail or email.

In-Person Delivery of Absentee Ballots

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

Time Period for Requesting Absentee Ballots

Effective August 1, clerks may only accept absentee ballot requests that are 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.

Detailed instructions on how to register and vote by absentee, along with additional guidance on these changes, are available at www.sos.nh.gov/elections/absentee-ballots.