New Hampshire State Senate elections, 2020

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2020 New Hampshire
Senate Elections
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GeneralNovember 3, 2020
PrimarySeptember 8, 2020
Past Election Results
2018・2016・2014
2012・2010・2008
2020 Elections
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Republicans flipped the New Hampshire State Senate in the November 3, 2020 election. All 24 seats in the New Hampshire State Senate were up for election in 2020. Heading into the elections, Democrats held 14 seats and Republicans held 10. Republicans won a 14-10 majority, gaining four seats and reversing the 14-10 Democratic majority. A 16-seat majority is required to override a governor's veto in New Hampshire.

In the 2018 elections, the chamber flipped from a 14-10 Republican majority to a 14-10 Democratic majority. Heading into the election, Ballotpedia identified 11 of the races as battlegrounds. Five of those races were for Republican-held districts, and six were in Democratic-held districts.

Heading into the election, New Hampshire had been under a divided government since 2018, when Democrats flipped the state Senate and House. Before 2018, New Hampshire had been governed by a Republican trifecta since 2017, when Gov. Chris Sununu (R) was elected.

Republicans needed to win eight of the 11 battleground seats to take control of the state Senate, while Democrats needed to hold at least four battleground seats to keep control of the state Senate.

Heading into the 2020 elections, Republicans held a majority in more chambers than Democrats. There was a Republican majority in 59 chambers and a Democratic majority in 39 chambers. In the Alaska House, there was a power-sharing agreement between the parties as part of a coalition.

New Hampshire's 2020 gubernatorial and state legislative elections affected partisan control of redistricting following the 2020 census. In New Hampshire, the state legislature is responsible for drafting both congressional and state legislative district plans. District plans are subject to gubernatorial veto.

The New Hampshire State Senate was one of 86 state legislative chambers with elections in 2020. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections.

Election procedure changes in 2020

See also: Changes to election dates, procedures, and administration in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.

New Hampshire modified its absentee/mail-in voting and candidate filing procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:

  • Absentee/mail-in voting: Any voter could request an absentee ballot based on concerns related to COVID-19. Voters could submit one absentee ballot application for both the primary and general elections.
  • Candidate filing procedures: The nomination petition signature requirements for the Libertarian Party's candidates in New Hampshire's general election was reduced by 35 percent.

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.

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Party control

See also: Partisan composition of state senates and State government trifectas
New Hampshire State Senate
Party As of November 3, 2020 After November 4, 2020
     Democratic Party 14 10
     Republican Party 10 14
Total 24 24

Districts

See also: New Hampshire state legislative districts

Use the interactive map below to find your district.

Candidates

General election

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Primary election


The candidate lists below are based on candidate filing lists provided by the New Hampshire Secretary of State on June 15, 2020.[1]



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2020 battleground chamber
See also: State legislative battleground chambers, 2020

The New Hampshire State Senate was among 24 state legislative chambers Ballotpedia identified as battleground chambers for the 2020 cycle. Click here for more information on state legislative battlegrounds.

What was at stake?

  • Republicans needed to gain three seats to take control of the chamber in 2020.
  • Heading into the 2020 elections, New Hampshire was under divided government with neither party holding a trifecta. Democrats controlled both chambers of the state legislature while Republicans controlled the governorship. All three trifecta components were up for election in 2020. Both parties had a chance to gain a trifecta by winning all three components.

Why was it a battleground?

  • Seats needed to flip: Republicans needed to flip three of the 24 seats up for election (13% of seats up) in order to win control of the chamber.
  • Seats decided by 10% or less in 2018: In the 2018 elections, there were 11 races (46% of the chamber) decided by margins of 10% or smaller.
  • Seats flipped in 2018: In the 2018 elections, partisan control of six seats (25% of the chamber) changed hands.
  • More seats flipped in 2018 than needed to change majority in 2020: More seats flipped in the 2018 elections (six) than needed to flip to change control of the chamber in 2020 (three).
  • 2018 battleground chamber: In 2018, the New Hampshire State Senate was a battleground chamber. That year, Democrats gained five seats from Republicans and Republicans gained one seat from Democrats. Click here to read more about the 2018 elections.
  • History of recent flips: Control of the New Hampshire State Senate changed twice between 2010 and 2020. Republicans gained a majority in 2010, while Democrats gained a majority in 2018.
  • Race ratings: The Cook Political Report rated the New Hampshire State Senate a toss-up chamber in 2020, meaning both parties had a good chance to win a majority.[2]


Battleground races

New Hampshire State Senate
Battleground races
Republican Party District 1
Republican Party District 2
Republican Party District 6
Republican Party District 7
Republican Party District 8
Democratic Party District 9
Democratic Party District 11
Democratic Party District 12
Democratic Party District 16
Democratic Party District 23
Democratic Party District 24

Going into the 2020 election, Ballotpedia identified 11 battleground races in the New Hampshire State Senate. Six of those seats were held by Democrats and five were held by Republicans. Based on analysis of these districts' electoral histories, these races had the potential to be more competitive than other races and could have led to shifts in the chamber's partisan balance.

To determine state legislative battleground races in 2020, Ballotpedia looked for races that fit one or more of the four factors listed below:

  1. In the last state legislative election, the winner received less than 55% of the vote.
  2. The presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and the most recent state legislative election winner won by a margin of 10 percentage points or less.
  3. The presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and the incumbent is not on the ballot this year.
  4. The presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and that presidential candidate won the district by a margin of 20 percentage points or more.

Republican PartyDistrict 1

What party controlled the seat heading into the election?

The Republican Party

Who were the candidates running?

Democratic Party Susan Ford
Republican Party Erin Hennessey

What made this a battleground race?

This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. David Starr (R) defeated then-incumbent Jeff Woodburn (D) 54.3% to 44.9% in 2018. Starr lost in the 2020 Republican primary to challenger Erin Hennessey. District 1 was one of 14 New Hampshire Senate districts that Republican Donald Trump won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 1 by 4.7 points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by 15.5 points.

Republican PartyDistrict 2

What party controlled the seat heading into the election?

The Republican Party

Who were the candidates running?

Republican Party Bob Giuda (incumbent)
Democratic Party Bill Bolton

What made this a battleground race?

This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Incumbent Bob Giuda (R) was first elected in 2016. He received 54% of the vote to Charlie Chandler's (D) 46%. In 2018, Giuda defeated Bolton 51.6% to 48.4%. District 2 was one of 14 New Hampshire Senate districts that Republican Donald Trump won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 2 by 6.5 points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by 6.6 points.

Republican PartyDistrict 6

What party controlled the seat heading into the election?

The Republican Party

Who were the candidates running?

Republican Party James Gray (incumbent)
Democratic Party Christopher Rice

What made this a battleground race?

This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Incumbent James Gray (R) was first elected in 2016 when he received 55.1% of the vote to Joe Casey's (D) 44.9%. He defeated Anne Grassie (D) in 2018 54.9% to 45.1%. District 6 was one of 14 New Hampshire Senate districts that Republican Donald Trump won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 6 by 17 percentage points. Mitt Romney (R) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by 2.3 percentage points.

Republican PartyDistrict 7

What party controlled the seat heading into the election?

The Republican Party

Who were the candidates running?

Republican Party Harold French (incumbent)
Democratic Party Philip Spagnuolo Jr.

What made this a battleground race?

This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Incumbent Harold F. French (R) was first elected in 2016. He defeated Democratic incumbent Andrew Hosmer 50.03% to 49.97%. In 2018, French defeated Mason Donovan (D) 53.4% to 46.6%. District 7 was one of 14 New Hampshire Senate districts that Republican Donald Trump won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 7 by 12.6 points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by 4.5 points.

Republican PartyDistrict 8

What party controlled the seat heading into the election?

The Republican Party

Who were the candidates running?

Republican Party Ruth Ward (incumbent)
Democratic Party Jenn Alford-Teaster

What made this a battleground race?

This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Incumbent Ruth Ward (R) was first elected in 2016. She defeated John Garvey (D) 53.1% to 46.9%. In 2018, she defeated Jenn Alford-Teaster (D) 51.3% to 48.7%. District 8 was one of 14 New Hampshire Senate districts that Republican Donald Trump won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 8 by 7.4 points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by 3.6 points.

Democratic PartyDistrict 9

What party controlled the seat heading into the election?

The Democratic Party

Who were the candidates running?

Democratic Party Jeanne Dietsch (incumbent)
Republican Party Denise Ricciardi

What made this a battleground race?

This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Incumbent Jeanne Dietsch (D) was first elected in 2018. She defeated Dan Hynes (R) 53.1% to 46.9%. District 9 was one of 10 New Hampshire Senate districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 9 by 1.0 points. Mitt Romney (R) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by 3.4 points.

Democratic PartyDistrict 11

What party controlled the seat heading into the election?

The Democratic Party

Who were the candidates running?

Democratic Party Shannon Chandley (incumbent)
Republican Party Gary Daniels

What made this a battleground race?

This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018 and the presidential candidate of the opposite party won in 2016. Incumbent Shannon Chandley (D) was first elected in 2018. She defeated then-incumbent Gary Daniels (R) 52.3% to 47.7%. District 11 was one of 14 New Hampshire Senate districts that Republican Donald Trump won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 11 by 1.7 points. Mitt Romney (R) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by 3.2 points.

Democratic PartyDistrict 12

What party controlled the seat heading into the election?

The Democratic Party

Who were the candidates running?

Democratic Party Melanie Levesque (incumbent)
Republican Party Kevin Avard

What made this a battleground race?

This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018 and the presidential candidate of the opposite party won in 2016. Incumbent Melanie Levesque (D) was first elected in 2018. She defeated then-incumbent Kevin Avard (R) 50.3% to 49.7%. District 12 was one of 14 New Hampshire Senate districts that Republican Donald Trump won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 12 by 2.5 points. Mitt Romney (R) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by 4.1 points.

Democratic PartyDistrict 16

What party controlled the seat heading into the election?

The Democratic Party

Who were the candidates running?

Democratic Party Kevin Cavanaugh (incumbent)
Republican Party Jason Syversen

What made this a battleground race?

This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Incumbent Kevin Cavanaugh (D) was first elected in a 2017 special election. He defeated David Boutin (R) 54.8% to 44.0%. In 2018, Cavanaugh defeated Boutin 52.3% to 47.7%. District 16 was one of 10 New Hampshire Senate districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 16 by 0.3 points. Mitt Romney (R) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by 1.1 points.

Democratic PartyDistrict 23

What party controlled the seat heading into the election?

The Democratic Party

Who were the candidates running?

Democratic Party Jon Morgan (incumbent)
Republican Party William Gannon

What made this a battleground race?

This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018 and the presidential candidate of the opposite party won in 2016. Incumbent Jon Morgan (D) was first elected in 2018. He defeated then-incumbent William Gannon (R) 50.2% to 49.8%. District 23 was one of 14 New Hampshire Senate districts that Republican Donald Trump won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 23 by 6.7 points. Mitt Romney (R) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by 3.5 points.

Democratic PartyDistrict 24

What party controlled the seat heading into the election?

The Democratic Party

Who were the candidates running?

Democratic Party Tom Sherman (incumbent)
Republican Party Louis Gargiulo

What made this a battleground race?

This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Incumbent Tom Sherman (D) was first elected in 2018. He defeated then-incumbent Dan Innis (R) 53.1% to 46.9%. District 24 was one of 10 New Hampshire Senate districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 24 by 0.04 points. Mitt Romney (R) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by 2.4 points.

Battleground races map

Incumbents who were not re-elected

See also: Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report: Vol. 10, 2020

Incumbents defeated in the general election

Four incumbents lost in the Nov. 3 general election. Those incumbents were:

Name Party Office
Jeanne Dietsch Electiondot.png Democratic Senate District 9
Shannon Chandley Electiondot.png Democratic Senate District 11
Melanie Levesque Electiondot.png Democratic Senate District 12
Jon Morgan Electiondot.png Democratic Senate District 23

Incumbents defeated in primary elections

One incumbent lost in the Sept. 8 primaries. That incumbent was:

Name Party Office
David Starr Ends.png Republican Senate District 1

Retiring incumbents

Three incumbents were not on the ballot in 2020.[3] Those incumbents were:

Name Party Office Reason
Martha Hennessey Electiondot.png Democratic Senate District 5 Retired
Dan Feltes Electiondot.png Democratic Senate District 15 Filed for different office
Martha Fuller Clark Electiondot.png Democratic Senate District 21 Retired


The three retirements in 2020 represented an increase from two in 2018. and a decrease from seven in 2016. The table below shows the number of open seats in each election held between 2010 and 2020.

Open Seats in New Hampshire State Senate elections: 2010 - 2020
Year Total seats Open seats Seats with incumbents running for re-election
2020 24 3 (13%) 21 (87%)
2018 24 2 (8%) 22 (92%)
2016 24 7 (29%) 17 (71%)
2014 24 3 (13%) 21 (87%)
2012 24 9 (38%) 15 (62%)
2010 24 5 (21%) 19 (79%)

Redistricting in New Hampshire

See also: Redistricting in New Hampshire

In New Hampshire, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the state legislature. These lines are subject to veto by the governor.[4]

State law requires that state legislative districts "be contiguous, and maintain the boundaries of towns, wards, or unincorporated places." There are no such requirements in place for congressional districts.[4]

Process to become a candidate

See also: Ballot access requirements for political candidates in New Hampshire

DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: New Hampshire Revised Statutes, Chapter 655: Nominations

For party candidates

A recognized political party candidate seeking placement on the primary election ballot must file a declaration of candidacy. On this declaration, the candidate must affirm that he or she is both a registered voter and a registered member of the party whose nomination he or she is pursuing.[5]

In addition to filing the declaration of candidacy, the candidate must do one of the following.[6]

1.) Pay an administrative assessment fee. Fees are established by state law and vary according to the office being sought.[6][7]

Administrative assessment fees
Office Fee
Governor, United States Senator $100
United States Representative $50
Executive Councilor $25
State Senator $10
State Representative $2

2.) File primary petitions. The number of required petition papers (each of which contains one signature) is established by state law and varies according to the office being sought.[6][7]

Primary petitions
Office Number of petitions
Governor, United States Senator 200
United States Representative 100
Executive Councilor 50
State Senator 20
State Representative 5

A written "assent to candidacy" must accompany the submitted primary petitions.[6][8]

A candidate for state-level office must also file a financial disclosure form.[9]

Filing paperwork for most offices is submitted to the New Hampshire Secretary of State. Filing paperwork for state House candidates is submitted to the town or city clerk of the municipality where the candidate resides. Filings must be made between the first Wednesday in June and the Friday of the following week.[6][10]

For nonparty candidates

A candidate seeking placement on the general election ballot must file a declaration of intent. The declaration of intent must be filed between the first Wednesday in June and the Friday of the following week.[11][12]

In addition to filing this declaration, the candidate must do one of the following.[6]

1.) Pay an administrative assessment fee. Fees are established by state law and vary according to the office being sought.[6]

Administrative assessment fees
Office Fee
Governor, United States Senator $100
United States Representative $50
Executive Councilor $25
State Senator $10
State Representative $2

2.) File nomination papers. Nomination papers must include the name and residence of the candidate, the office being sought, and the political organization or principles the candidate represents. The number of required nomination papers (each of which contains one signature) is established by state law and varies according to the office being sought.[6][13]

Nomination papers
Office Number of papers
Governor, United States Senator 3,000**
United States Representative 1,500
Executive Councilor 750
State Senator 750
State Representative 150
** Of the 3,000 required signatures/papers, 1,500 must be collected from each of the state's two congressional districts.

A candidate for state-level office must also file a financial disclosure form.[9]

Prior to final filing, nomination papers must be submitted for certification to the Supervisors of the Checklist in each town or city where signatures were collected. Nomination papers must be submitted for certification by 5:00 p.m. on the Wednesday five weeks before the primary. Nomination papers are ultimately due to the New Hampshire Secretary of State by 5:00 p.m. on the Wednesday before the primary.[6]

For write-in candidates

A write-in candidate does not need to file any special forms in order to have his or her votes tallied. In the event that a write-in candidate wins the nomination of a party at a primary election, he or she is required to file a declaration of candidacy with the New Hampshire Secretary of State no later than the first Monday following the primary election. Also, a write-in candidate must have received at least 35 votes in order to be considered the winner of a primary election.[14]

2020 ballot access requirements

The table below details filing requirements for New Hampshire State Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber name Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
New Hampshire State Senate Qualified party N/A $10.00 6/12/2020 Source
New Hampshire State Senate Unaffiliated 750 $10.00 6/12/2020 Source

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

To be eligible to serve in the New Hampshire Senate, a candidate must be:[15]

  • At least thirty years of age
  • A resident of the state for seven years immediately preceding the election
  • An inhabitant of the district for which they are chosen

Salaries and per diem

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2024[16]
SalaryPer diem
$100/yearNo per diem is paid.

When sworn in

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

New Hampshire legislators assume office on the first Wednesday of December following the general election.[17]

New Hampshire political history

Trifectas

A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government.

New Hampshire Party Control: 1992-2024
Four years of Democratic trifectas  •  Thirteen years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Governor R R R R R D D D D D D R R D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R
Senate R R R R R R R D S R R R R R R D D D D R R R R R R R R D D R R R R
House R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D R R D D R R R R D D R R R R

Presidential politics in New Hampshire

2016 Presidential election results

U.S. presidential election, New Hampshire, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes Electoral votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngHillary Clinton/Tim Kaine 46.8% 348,526 4
     Republican Donald Trump/Mike Pence 46.5% 345,790 0
     Libertarian Gary Johnson/Bill Weld 4.1% 30,777 0
     Green Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka 0.9% 6,496 0
     American Delta Roque De La Fuente/Michael Steinberg 0.1% 678 0
     - Write-in votes 1.6% 12,029 0
Total Votes 744,296 4
Election results via: New Hampshire Secretary of State

Note: Write-in votes from New Hampshire can be found here.

Voter information

How the primary works

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. New Hampshire uses a semi-closed primary system. Unaffiliated voters may vote in the primary, but in order to do so, they have to choose a party before voting. This changes their status from unaffiliated to affiliated with that party unless they fill out a card to return to undeclared status.[18][19][20]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Poll times

In New Hampshire, polling place hours of operation vary. According to state law, polling places must be open between 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Localities may set their own polling hours as long as they are open during those hours prescribed by state law.[21] To search for the hours your polling place is open, click here.

Registration requirements

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in New Hampshire, each applicant must be a citizen of the United States, an inhabitant of New Hampshire, and at least 18 years old by the next election. Individuals may register to vote at the local clerk's office, with the community's supervisors of the checklist or registrar of voters, or at the polling place on the day of the election. Applicants must fill out a voter registration form and either show proof of identity and citizenship or sign an affidavit witnessed by an election official.[22][23] Absentee registration is allowed for those who are “unable to register in person because of physical disability, religious beliefs, military service, or because of temporary absence.” Absentee registration requires mailing a voter registration form and witnessed absentee voter registration affidavit to the local clerk.[22]

Automatic registration

New Hampshire does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

New Hampshire does not permit online voter registration.

Same-day registration

New Hampshire allows same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

In New Hampshire, citizens can register to vote the day they move to the state.[22]

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

New Hampshire requires voters to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote, as of November 2024. Gov. Chris Sununu (R) signed HB 1569 into law on September 17, 2024. The legislation required voter registration applicants to provide one of the following at the time of registration: "birth certificate, passport, naturalization papers if the applicant is a naturalized citizen, or any other reasonable documentation which indicates the applicant is a United States citizen."[24]

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[25] As of November 2024, five states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, and New Hampshire — had passed laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration. However, only two of those states' laws were in effect, in Arizona and New Hampshire. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allowed noncitizens to vote in some local elections as of November 2024. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The New Hampshire Secretary of State’s office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

Voter ID requirements

New Hampshire requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[26] A voter without required ID may sign a challenged voter affidavit and vote. Within 90 days of the election, all such voters will be mailed a non-forwardable letter asking them to confirm their identity. Returned letters, or letters that receive a response indicating the recipient did not sign a challenged voter affidavit, are forwarded to the secretary of state for voter fraud investigations.[27]

The following list of accepted ID was current as of June 2024. Click here for the New Hampshire Secretary of State page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

“
  • Driver’s license issued by any state or federal government;
  • Non-driver ID card issued by NH DMV or motor vehicle agency of another state;
  • Photo ID card for “voting identification only” issued by NH DMV;
  • U.S. armed services identification card;
  • U.S. passport or passcard;
  • NH student ID card (Dated within the past 5 years. Must be from a school on the approval list provided to the Secretary of State each year by the Department of Education.);
  • Photo ID not mentioned above, but determined to be legitimate by the moderator, supervisors of the checklist,

or clerk of a town, ward or city.[28]

”

Additionally, a poll worker may verify the voter’s identity. If anyone authorized to challenge a voter objects to the poll worker’s verification, the voter would have to complete a challenged voter affidavit.[26]

Voters without proper photo identification can complete a challenged voter affidavit. A poll worker will take a photo of the voter and attach it to the affidavit. The voter may then cast a regular ballot. If the voter objects to being photographed for religious reasons, he or she can complete an affidavit of religious exemption, which will be attached to the challenged voter affidavit.[26]

Early voting

New Hampshire does not permit early voting.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting.

Absentee voting

A voter is eligible to vote absentee in an election if he or she cannot make it to the polls on Election Day for one of the following reasons:[29]

  • The voter will be absent from his or her polling location on the day of the election.
  • The voter is unable to visit the polls because of the observance of a religious commitment.
  • The voter is unable to visit the polls because of a physical disability.
  • The voter is unable to visit the polls because of an employment obligation.
  • The voter is unable to visit the polls due to military service.

There is no specific deadline to apply for an absentee ballot. The completed ballot must be returned either in person by 5:00 p.m. the day before the election or by mail. If returned by mail, the ballot must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Election Day.[29]


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ New Hampshire Secretary of State, "New Hampshire State Primary Election," accessed June 15, 2020
  2. ↑ The Cook Political Report, "July Update: Handicapping the 2020 State Legislature Races," July 22, 2020
  3. ↑ Ballotpedia defines an incumbent as retiring if the incumbent did not file for office or filed for office but withdrew, was disqualified, or otherwise left a race in a manner other than losing the primary, primary runoff, or convention. If an incumbent runs as a write-in candidate, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring. If an incumbent runs in the same chamber for a different seat, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 All About Redistricting, "New Hampshire," accessed May 5, 2015
  5. ↑ New Hampshire Revised Statutes, "Title LXIII, Section 655:17," accessed March 24, 2014
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 New Hampshire Secretary of State, "New Hampshire - Filing Period," accessed March 24, 2014
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 New Hampshire Revised Statutes, "Title LXIII, Section 655:19-c," accessed March 24, 2014
  8. ↑ New Hampshire Revised Statutes, "Title LXIII, Section 655:25," accessed March 25, 2014
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 New Hampshire Secretary of State, "Election Forms," accessed March 24, 2014
  10. ↑ New Hampshire Revised Statutes, "Title LXIII, Section 655:14," accessed March 24, 2014
  11. ↑ New Hampshire Revised Statutes, "Title LXIII, Section 655:17-a," accessed March 24, 2014
  12. ↑ New Hampshire Revised Statutes, "Title LXIII, Section 655:14-a," accessed March 24, 2014
  13. ↑ New Hampshire Revised Statutes, "Title LXIII, Section 655:42," accessed March 24, 2014
  14. ↑ New Hampshire Revised Statutes, "Title LXIII, Section 659:88," accessed March 24, 2014
  15. ↑ Qualifications to serve in the New Hampshire Senate (Pg. 18) (dead link)
  16. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
  17. ↑ New Hampshire Constitution, "Part II, Article 3," accessed February 10, 2021
  18. ↑ NCSL,"State Primary Election Types," accessed April 25, 2023
  19. ↑ Ballotpedia research conducted December 26, 2013, through January 3, 2014, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
  20. ↑ New Hampshire Secretary of State,"Voting in Party Primaries," accessed April 25, 2023
  21. ↑ New Hampshire Revised Statutes - Title 63, Chapter 659.4," accessed April 25, 2023
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 New Hampshire Secretary of State, “How to Register to Vote,” accessed June 25, 2024
  23. ↑ New Hampshire Secretary of State, “Register to Vote,” accessed June 25, 2024
  24. ↑ General Court of New Hampshire, "CHAPTER 378 HB 1569-FN - FINAL VERSION," accessed November 14, 2024
  25. ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 State of New Hampshire, "Voter ID Law Explanatory Document," accessed June 25, 2024
  27. ↑ New Hampshire Statutes, "§ 659:13," accessed November 1, 2024
  28. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 New Hampshire Secretary of State, "Absentee Ballots," accessed April 25, 2023


Current members of the New Hampshire State Senate
Leadership
Majority Leader:Sharon Carson
Senators
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
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Dan Innis (R)
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Ruth Ward (R)
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District 14
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District 16
District 17
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District 19
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District 21
District 22
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District 24
Republican Party (16)
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