Be prepared: Tighter restrictions on voter ID required on election day Nov. 4

CONCORD - New Hampshire Secretary of State David M. Scanlan and Rochester City Clerk Kelly Walters are reminding Rochester area residents of the requirements to register to vote ahead of the Nov. 4 Municipal General Election.

Polls will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on election day. Voters can find their ward and polling location on the city clerk's website at www.rochesternh.gov/city-clerks-office/election-information.

Required documents

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

When registering, individuals will need to prove they are qualified. The proof documents listed below are the most commonly used forms of proof, but the lists are not exhaustive:

• Proof of identity and age - driver's license, or government-issued photo identification, or passport/passport card.
• Proof of citizenship - birth certificate, or United States passport, or naturalization documents, or other proof of citizenship issued by the United States Department of State, or other reasonable documentation which indicates the applicant is a United States citizen.
• Proof of domicile - NH driver's license, NH non-driver ID, NH resident vehicle registration, federal picture identification, government-issued check, benefit statement, or tax document with the current domicile address listed. If an applicant attests that they do not possess any of these with an Attestation Form, they can use a rental/lease agreement, utility or other bill, or other qualified document under RSA 654:12 with the current domicile, the Confirmation of Domicile Form (blank form provided by local election officials which must also be signed by a person owning, leasing, or renting the domicile property), or the Homeless Confirmation of Domicile Form.

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 www.sos.nh.gov/elections/register-vote.

If an applicant does not provide acceptable documentary proof of identity, age, United States citizenship, and/or domicile, they are not eligible to register to 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.

Voters can use the Secretary of State's Voter Information Lookup to make sure that their voter registration information is accurate before election day.

Where to register

Before the election, Rochester residents can register at the Rochester City Clerk's Office, at the supervisors of the checklist meeting, or, if they qualify, by absentee.

The last day Rochester residents can register at the Rochester City Clerk's Office is on Monday by 5:00 PM, however, the Supervisors of the Checklist will meet on the same day from 7:00 PM to 7:30 PM to update the voter checklist and accept any new voter registration applications. This is the last time residents will be able to register to vote before the election. The location of the Supervisor's Session is as follows:

Supervisors of the Checklist Session

Strafford Regional Planning Commission, Conference Room 1-a

150 Wakefield Street, Unit 12

Rochester, NH 03867

7:00 PM - 7:30 PM

New Hampshire also offers election-day registration. Residents who miss the deadline to register before the election can register to vote at the polls on the day of the election.

Absentee registration changes

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.

More information on the absentee registration process is available on the Secretary of State's website.

Absentee voting changes

Qualified voters who request an absentee ballot must show proof of their identity to receive their absentee ballot. 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.

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 the election by mail or email.

Voters returning their absentee ballots by mail should send them to the Rochester City Clerk's Office, 150 Wakefield Street #10, Rochester, NH 03867.

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.

Residents should reach out to the Rochester City Clerk for registration deadlines and any other questions related to the upcoming Municipal General Election, which takes place on Nov. 4.