Absentee Voting Information

Absentee Voting

You must be qualified to vote by absentee ballot because: you will be absent on election day which includes work obligations (caring for children or infirm adult(s) is considered a work obligation); you are confined in a penal institution for a misdemeanor or while awaiting trial; you cannot appear in public on election day due to a religious commitment; you have a disability; or if the National Weather Service issues a weather event warning for your town/ward for election day.

Absentee ballots may only be requested by completing an Application for Election Absentee Ballot.

Absentee Voting at City Hall

Residents who are unable to vote at the polls on Election Day may request an absentee ballot from the City Clerk’s Office. You must be registered to vote prior to casting an absentee ballot.  

HB 288, NH RSA 657:6, made changes to the timing municipal clerks may accept absentee ballot applications. Effective August 1, 2025, Clerk’s may only accept absentee ballot applications postmarked or received within six months of a given election for which the absentee ballot is being requested. Any applications received prior to August 1, 2025, will be processed in accordance with laws in effect prior to August 1, 2025.

Absentee Ballots may be requested:

  • In-person at the City Clerk’s Office with a photo ID*.
  • By downloading, printing, and completing the Application for Election Absentee Ballot which can then be mailed or e-mailed to the City Clerk’s Office with a photocopy of the applicant’s photo ID, or by having their signature on the absentee application notarized.

Absentee ballots may only be requested by completing an Application for Election Absentee Ballot.

During a primary election, undeclared voters will be asked to declare a party on their absentee ballot application.

*SB 287, NH RSA 657:17-c, effective September 30, 2025, adds identity verification requirements for absentee ballot applications. Applicants can provide sufficient verification in one of several ways: (1) providing a copy of the person’s photo identification that meets the requirements of RSA 659:13, II(a); (2) personally presenting photo identification to the clerk or their designee that meets the requirements of RSA 659:13, II(a); or (3) having their signature on the absentee ballot application notarized. Applications cannot be processed unless an applicant provides one of the three identity verification methods.  These changes do not affect Federal Post Card Applications for Uniformed and Overseas Citizens (UOCAVA) voters.

Although anyone may return another voter’s absentee ballot application to the City Clerk’s Office, absentee ballots can only be handed to the voter or mailed to voters, in accordance with NH RSA 657:15, individuals obtaining absentee ballots in person at the City Clerk’s Office may complete their ballots in City Hall during normal business hours, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. with extended hours until 6 p.m. on Thursdays.

Completing the Absentee Ballot

Absentee ballots include two envelopes an Affidavit Envelope and a Return Envelope.  Please follow the instructions printed on the Affidavit envelope carefully.

  1. When filling out your ballot, completely fill in the oval to the right of the candidate(s) that you wish to vote for. To vote for a person whose name is not printed on the ballot, write the candidate’s name on the line provided and completely fill in the oval.  Do not vote for more than the number of candidates to be elected. If you vote for more than the stated number of candidates, your vote for that office will not be counted. Please complete your absentee ballot in black or blue ink.
  2. Seal the completed ballot inside the Affidavit Envelope, only ballots should be included in the Affidavit Envelope. Please ensure that you have signed the envelope, printed your name, and filled in your voter address. If you have a disability and received assistance in completing your ballot, please have the person assisting you fill in all of the lines below the voter address on the Affidavit Envelope. If your signature is missing, the ballot will be challenged which means it may not be counted. Voters whose ballots are challenged are notified shortly after the election. 
  3. Place the signed and sealed Affidavit Envelope inside the Return Envelope. If you have any documents which need to be returned to the City Clerk’s Office, such as voter registration material, place those in the Return Envelope as well. Seal your Return Envelope and if mailing, affix appropriate postage. 

Returning Absentee Ballots

Absentee ballots may be returned by mail, in-person hand-delivery by the voter, or by a delivery agent. Absentee ballots cannot be placed in the Municipal Drop-Box in front of City Hall.

To return an absentee ballot by mail, your Affidavit Envelope should be placed inside the Return Envelope, which is pre-addressed to the City Clerk’s Office, at 41 Green Street, Concord NH 03301.

To return an absentee ballot in-person hand-delivery, return your completed ballot to the City Clerk’s Office Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. with extended hours until 6:00 p.m. on Thursdays. When you return your ballot, a staff member will ask for your photo identification in accordance with NH RSA 657:17-a. Absentee ballots cannot be placed in the Municipal Drop-Box in front of City Hall.

When a delivery agent returns an absentee ballot on the voter’s behalf, the delivery agent will be required to show their photo identification, and complete an Absentee Ballot Return Form per NH RSA 657:17, the deliver agent must be:

  • The voter’s spouse, parent, sibling, child, grandchild, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, stepparent, stepchild; or
  • The nursing home administrator, licensed pursuant to RSA 151-A:2, or a nursing home staff member designated in writing by the administrator to deliver ballots; or 
  • The residential care facility administrator, or residential care facility staff member designated in writing by the administrator to deliver ballots; or
  • The person assisting a blind voter or a voter with a disability who has signed a statement on the affidavit envelope acknowledging the assistance. *This person cannot deliver more than 4 absentee ballots. 

Important Deadlines

Day Prior to Election Day: Absentee ballots will be accepted by mail, in-person by the voter, or by a delivery agent through 5 p.m. the day prior to Election Day. 

Election Day: Absentee ballots will be accepted by mail at the City Clerk’s Office until 5 p.m. on Election Day or by a delivery agent at the absentee voter’s polling location.

Overseas Citizens & Uniformed Service Members & Their Dependents

If you are temporarily out of the country, serving in the military, or the dependent of someone in the military, you may obtain an absentee ballot using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). The FPCA application serves as both an absentee ballot request and a voter registration document. The application can be returned to our office by:

  • Mail:  City Clerk’s Office, 41 Green Street, Concord, NH 03301
  • Fax:  603-225-8592
  • E-mail:  cityclerk@concordnh.gov 

Voters completing this form have the choice of receiving their ballots by e-mail, mail. Depending on your circumstances, you will receive a full Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) ballot or a Federal Office Only UOCAVA ballot.

If you receive your ballot by e-mail, you will also be sent a UOCAVA oath and directions for completing and returning your ballot.  If you receive your ballot by mail, you will also be sent instructions, a UOCAVA Affidavit Envelope, and a Return Envelope. 

Ballots must be returned by mail regardless of how you received it. Please be sure to print "Absentee Ballot Enclosed" on your outer envelope. Shipping providers such as FedEx and UPS can be utilized. The ballot must be returned to the City Clerk’s Office by 5 p.m. on Election Day.

Track the Status of Your Ballot

Any absentee voter can use the State of New Hampshire Voter Information Look-up website to check on the status of their absentee ballot. The website will show the date the City Clerk’s office received your application, the date your absentee ballot was mailed to you, and the date the absentee ballot was received back by the Clerk’s Office. Information on the site is updated every 24 hours.