City Clerk Announces Presidential Primary Turnout Results and Party Affiliation Change Instructions

Portsmouth, New Hampshire – Kelli Barnaby, City Clerk for the City of Portsmouth announced that 9,168 citizens voted at the five Portsmouth Wards in the Presidential Primary on February 11, representing a 46.4% voter turnout. The City registered 811 new voters in this election. They were among the 457,040 voters statewide casting ballots. Statewide, according to the NH Secretary of State, the Democratic Primary turnout of 300,622 broke the old record of 288,672 votes cast in 2008.

The City Clerk further announced that anyone wishing to make any changes to party affiliation must do so by June 2, 2020 in order for the change to apply to the State Primary Election on Tuesday, September 8, 2020. Voters may change party affiliation with the clerk of the city where you live except for during the period of time between the first day of the filing period for the primary election, which is June 3, 2020 and the date of the primary election itself. Therefore, party affiliation changes WILL NOT be accepted after June 2, 2020.   

Also, Undeclared Voters voting at the Primary Election will be required to choose either a Democratic or Republican ballot to vote. This is considered declaring a party affiliation.  To remain an Undeclared Voter after casting a ballot, a voter must visit the Registrars Table at the polling location and sign the Undeclared Voters list for the Ward. Otherwise the voter is listed as affiliated with the party of the ballot selected.

Those registered as either a Democrat or Republican during a Primary Election are not allowed to choose a different ballot and are handed the ballot for that affiliation. These voters are not allowed to make any party change or become an Undeclared Voter at the polls. These changes may be made beginning September 9, 2020, the day after the Primary Election.

During the November 3, 2020 General Election, voters of any affiliation may choose to vote for any candidate of any party on the ballot.