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| | City Clerk's Office, 1 Junkins Avenue, Portsmouth, NH 03801, Phone: (603) 610-7245 , Fax: (603) 427-1579 | |
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City Clerk's Office
Voting Information
Click on the below links for more voting information.
WHICH WARD DO I LIVE IN?
Please click here to view a listing of wards by street name and numbers.
Please Note: Due to recent redistricting, your Ward may have changed. Notifications were sent through the mail informing those affected by the change and informing them of their new polling location.
Please be sure that your address is accurately listed on the checklist to avoid problems on Election Day. Remember, you must vote in the ward where you reside.
If you have any questions as to your ward, please contact the office at
603-610-7245 and we will assist you.
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HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE
PLEASE NOTE: The last day to register to vote or make name, address or party affiliation changes before the November 6th General Election will be Saturday, October 27, 2012 from the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Room 211, Board of Registrars, Municipal Building.
Information Required
When determining the qualifications of an applicant, the supervisors of the checklist, or the town or city clerk, shall require the applicant to present proof of citizenship, age, and domicile, as provided in the following categories:
CITIZENSHIP
The supervisors of the checklist, or the town or city clerk, shall accept from the applicant any one of the following as proof of citizenship: the applicant's birth certificate, a passport, naturalization papers if the applicant is a naturalized citizen, a citizenship affidavit, or any other reasonable documentation which indicates the applicant is a United States citizen.
AGE
Any reasonable documentation indicating the applicant is 18 years of age or older.
DOMICILE
Any reasonable documentation which indicates that the applicant has a domicile and intends to maintain a domicile, as defined State of New hampshire RSA's, in the town, city or ward in which he or she desires to vote, or if the applicant does not have reasonable documentation in his or her possession at the place and time of voter registration, an affidavit may be completed.
No post office box addresses or business addresses are accepted.
Alternate Options (other than above)
- You may register on Election Day.
- If you meet the state's voter requirements and qualifications and are unable to register in person because of physical disability, military service, or because of temporary absence, you may register by mail. You should request an Absentee Registration Affidavit and a Voter Registration Card from the City Clerk. The Absentee Registration Affidavit must be witnessed and then both the affidavit and the voter registration card are to be returned to the City Clerk.
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UPCOMING ELECTION(S)
- General Election - November 6, 2012
POLLING HOURS
The polling hours for the General Election, November 6, 2012, will be 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
ELECTION DAY VOTER REGISTRATION
Voters may register at the polls on Election Day.
"VOTER ID" LAW
During the 2012 legislative session, the legislature passed the “Voter ID” law, which will phase-in a photo-identification requirement over a period of time as follows:
For any election before September 1, 2013, you will be asked to provide one of the following:
- Driver's License issued from any state (even if expired);
- ID card issued by NH DMV (Division of Motor Vehicles)
- U.S. Armed Services ID card;
- U.S. Passport (even if expired);
- Valid photo ID card issued by either the federal government or a state, county or municipal government;
- Valid student ID card;
- Other photo ID deemed legitimate by the supervisors of the checklist, the moderator or the clerk; or
- Verification of identify by a supervisor of the checklist, the moderator or the clerk.
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE AN APPROVED PHOTO ID:
- Between November 1, 2012 and September 1, 2013, any voter who does not present an approved photo ID will be permitted to vote after executing a "challenged voter affidavit."
- A voter who does not have an approved photo ID may obtain a free photo ID for voting purposes only by presenting a voucher from their town/city clerk or the Secretary of State to any NH DMV office that issues identification.
- After November 1, 2012, if you filled out a "challenged voter affidavit" in order to vote on Election Day, you will receive a verification letter from the Secretary of State, requesting confirmation that you voted in the election. If you do not respond in writing to the Secretary of State within 90 days of the date it was mailed, the Attorney General will conduct an investigation to determine whether fraudulent voting occurred.
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NEW STATE SENATE AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICTS
Due to the passage of House Bill 592, we now have new State Senate and State Representative Districts as follows:
State Senate District - after 2012 Redistricting
- District 21: Durham, Lee, Madbury, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, and Portsmouth
State Representative Districts - after 2012 Redistricting = 7 total representatives
- District 25 - Consists of Ward 1 only
- District 26 - Consists of Ward 2 only
- District 27 - Consists of Ward 3 only
- District 28 - Consists of Ward 4 only
- District 29 - Consists of Ward 5 only
- District 30 - Consists of Ward 1, 2, 4, and 5 (Not 3)
- District 31 - Floterial with Ward 3 only represented with Greenland, Newington & North Hampton
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VOTING LOCATIONS
Ward One - New Franklin School - 1 Franklin Drive
- Off Woodbury Avenue, between Anchorage and Best Inns
Ward Two* - North Church Parish House - 355 Spinney Road
- Connects Islington Street and Middle Road and may be accessed from the lower end of Islington Street (beyond Hannaford Supermarket, heading towards Route 33) or from Middle Road
Ward Three - Robert J. Lister Academy (f/k/a Sherburne School) - Sherburne Road
- From Route 33, hospital traffic light intersection, take a left at the stop sign and go around the corner and school will be on the right
- From Route 1, take Borthwick Avenue to the end
Ward Four** - Portsmouth High School - 50 Andrew Jarvis Drive
Ward Five - Little Harbour School - 50 Clough Drive
- Off South Street near the cemetery
*Due to the construction taking place at the Middle School, Ward Two polling location has been temporarily relocated.
**Due to the large voter turnout expected for the State Primary and Presidential General Elections, the Ward Four polls will be temporarily relocated.
ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND APPLICATIONS:
Absentee ballots are now available for the November 6, 2012 General Election. In order to receive an Absentee Ballot for the November 6, 2012 General Election, you must be a registered voter in the City of Portsmouth and meet the criteria for receiving absentee ballots as stated below. You must fill out an Absentee Ballot Application Form and submit the form either in person or through the mail
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CRITERIA FOR RECEIVING ABSENTEE BALLOTS
There are four reasons available under the law for individuals to receive an absentee ballot. Commuters please read information under Absence from City.
- Absence from City: A person is unable to appear at any time during polling hours at polling place because they will be working on election day or will be otherwise absent on election day from the city and will be unable to vote in person.
- Absence Because of Religious Observance: A person is observing a religious commitment which prevents them from voting in person.
- Physical Disability: A person is unable to vote in person due to a physical disability.
- Absence from City due to Employment: A person at any time during polling hours cannot appear because of an employment obligation requires them to remain physically at work, or to be in transit to or from work from the time the polls open until after the time the polls close.
SAMPLE BALLOTS
Sample ballots for the November 6, 2012 General Election are now available.
Ward 1 - Sample ballot
Ward 2 - Sample ballot
Ward 3 - Sample ballot
Ward 4 - Sample ballot
Ward 5 - Sample ballot
The sample ballots are also on display at the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall Public Notice Board, Portsmouth Public Library, and here on this web page. Sample ballots will be posted on Election Day at each polling location.
Constitutional Amendment Ballot Questions Explanation 
QUESTIONS
If you have any questions, please contact our office at (603) 610-7207 or via email at cityclerk@cityofportsmouth.com.
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