Elections and Voting

Mission

The mission of the Town Clerk’s Office is to provide the Town of Stoddard residents with an election process in accordance with Article 11 of the Constitution of the State of New Hampshire.

Stoddard uses VotingWorks tabulator which scans paper ballots, capturing the votes marked by voters then reads the mark made on your ballot and securely counts it. VotingWorks systems are designed with transparency and security in mind, allowing for post-election audits to verify the accuracy of the vote counts. The NH ballot counting devices cannot connect to the internet or wireless devices. During New Hampshire elections, all votes are cast on paper ballots. Ballot counts are then transported to the Secretary of States Office, via the New Hampshire State Police.

New Hampshire holds the First-n-the-Nation Primary. Ballots for State and Federal elections are printed by the State. New Hampshire State elections are run by approximately 2,500 locally elected officials. Thousands more volunteer as poll workers.

2024 Election Dates/Polling Place

• January 23 - Federal Presidential Primary - Town Hall
• May 14 - Town Election  (NOTE: May 21, 2024 is our Annual Town Meeting) - JFES
• September 10 - State Government Primary - JFES
• November 5 - State and Presidential Election - JFES

Upcoming September 10, 2024 State Government Primary Election Information

• Our polling place is James Faulkner Elementary School, 200 School Street
• The polling time is 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
• Ballots are machine-counted
• Absentee Ballot Applications are available at the Town Clerks office or clicking the Absentee Ballot Application link to download and mail-in

Registering to Vote

NH offers same day registration. To register on election day, you must complete a voter registration form and prove your identity, age, citizenship and domicile by providing domicile or signing an affidavit attesting to their identity, age, citizenship, and domicile. Applicants who complete affidavits when registering will be contacted later by the NH Secretary of State to verify the applicant’s information.

Residents may register to vote at the Town Clerk’s office, at a posted Supervisors of the Checklist meeting or at Town Hall on Election Day. To be eligible to register and vote in the Town of Stoddard, applicants must be:

• 18 years of age or older on Election Day
• A United States Citizen
• Domiciled in the town where they intend to vote

Proof of Identification and Age: Valid Driver's License, Non-Driver's ID, current United States Passport or Passport Card, Military ID, valid student photo-ID (if DOB is listed)

Proof of Domicile: Valid Driver's License, Non-Driver's ID, or any of the following listing the applicant’s current name and address such as valid student photo-ID, school document showing applicant lives in campus housing, valid NH vehicle registration, utility bill, bank statement, rental or lease agreement, tax bill, medical bill, pay stub, other monthly bills, postmarked mail within the last 30 days. There is no minimum period you are required to have lived in New Hampshire before registering to vote. You may register as soon as you move to Stoddard.

Proof of Citizenship: United States Birth Certificate, United States Passport or Passport Card, Naturalization papers if the applicant is a naturalized citizen.

Residents unable to visit the Town Clerk’s Office due to absence or disability may register absentee.  

For more information about registering to vote click here.

Military or Overseas Citizen Registration

Members of the military domiciled in Stoddard can obtain from their commanding officer a Standard Form 76 Federal Post Card Application - Registration and Absentee Ballot Request (red and white form). If you are an oversees citizen domiciled in Stoddard or if your commanding officer does not have the form, it can be printed from the online version available at https://www.fvap.gov/ and mailed to the Office of the Town Clerk, P.O. Box 373, Stoddard, NH 03464.

Absentee Ballots

Absentee Ballots are available at the Town Clerk’s Office for those who are unable to vote at the polls on Election Day due to absence from town, physical disability, religious observance, or employment obligations. State and Presidential absentee ballots will be available at least 30 days before the election.

View or download the absentee ballot request form for Elections to be held in 2024. 

Absentee Ballots can be requested in person at the Town Clerk’s Office or via a written request which shall include the voter’s name, address, mailing address, and signature.  During a primary election, undeclared voters will be asked to declare a party on their ballot request application.  Ballots are given in-hand directly to the voter or delivered via U.S. mail.

Deadlines for absentee voters

Completed absentee ballots must be returned to your local clerk by mail or in person.

           Deadline by mail: By 5:00 p.m. on election day.           

           Deadline in person: By 5:00 p.m. the day before the election.

Voters

For detailed information, instructions and applications, please visit NH Secretary of State's website:

https://www.sos.nh.gov/

Declaration of Candidacy for Elective Office

Whether you are a first-time candidate or already an elected official, the decision to run for election or reelection is a serious one. The filing period for the 2024 Town Elections begins Wednesday, March 27th 2024 and ends on Friday, April 5th, 2024. On April 5th, 2024, the Town Clerks office will be open between 3pm to 5pm. Any candidates filing on the last day must file in person. The 2024 form may be found by clicking the attachment below.

Oath of Office

An Oath of Office is an official promise by a person who has been elected to a public office to fulfill the duties of the office according to the law. You must complete and sign the document, then be sworn in by the Town Clerk or the Deputy Town Clerk.  The form may be found by clicking here.