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RSA 657:1 · Absence, Religious Observance, and Disability Absentee Voting

Title
LXIII: ELECTIONS
Chapter
657 · ABSENTEE VOTING
Status
current
Official source linked
Yes
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657:1 Absence, Religious Observance, and Disability Absentee Voting. –

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I.

Any person who will be absent on the day of any state election from the city, town, or unincorporated place in which he or she is registered to vote or who cannot appear in public on any election day because of his or her observance of a religious commitment or who is unable to vote there in person by reason of physical disability may vote at such elections as provided in this chapter. A person who is unable to appear at any time during polling hours at his or her polling place because of an employment obligation shall be considered absent for purposes of this chapter. For the purposes of this section, the term "employment" shall include the care of children and infirm adults, with or without compensation.

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II.

When the National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning, blizzard warning, or ice storm warning for election day applicable to the city, town, or unincorporated place:

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(a)

A person who otherwise would have voted in person but has concerns for his or her safety traveling in the storm, shall be considered absent for purposes of this chapter and may vote absentee on the day immediately prior to the election.

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(b)

A person who cares for children or infirm adults who reasonably anticipates that school, child care, or adult care will be canceled, who otherwise would have voted in person but will be deterred from voting by the need to care for children or infirm adults, shall be considered absent for purposes of this chapter and may vote absentee on the day immediately prior to the election.

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(c)

As required by RSA 652:20, the clerk's office shall be open to receive applications for absentee ballots, to provide voters the opportunity to complete absentee ballots, and to receive returned ballots on the day immediately prior to an election at a minimum from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The clerk may designate a deputy clerk or assistant to provide this service, provided the individual has taken the oath of office and has been trained in the requirements for using an absentee ballot and the procedures for issuing and receiving absentee ballots.

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(d)

In the event an election is postponed pursuant to RSA 669:1, the provisions of subparagraph (c) shall apply to the day before the date of the originally scheduled election and the day before the date of the postponed election. Source. 1979, 308:2; 436:1. 2006, 136:1, eff. July 21, 2006. 2016, 130:1, eff. May 27, 2016. 2018, 329:4, eff. Jan. 1, 2019. 2019, 192:5, 6, eff. July 10, 2019.

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Source note

Source. 1979, 308:2; 436:1. 2006, 136:1, eff. July 21, 2006. 2016, 130:1, eff. May 27, 2016. 2018, 329:4, eff. Jan. 1, 2019. 2019, 192:5, 6, eff. July 10, 2019.

Source history

  • 1979, 308:2; 436:1
  • 2006, 136:1, eff. July 21, 2006
  • 2016, 130:1, eff. May 27, 2016
  • 2018, 329:4, eff. Jan. 1, 2019
  • 2019, 192:5, 6, eff. July 10, 2019

Related materials

Bill relationships

  • 2026 HB1277 amend

    ing the voter has signed the statement on the absentee ballot application or affidavit envelope that assistance was provided. 2 Verification of Absentee Ballot Applicant. Amend RSA 657:17-c, I to read as follows: I. Every applicant for an absentee ballot shall provide verification before being issued an absentee ballot. Verification shall be satisfied by one of the following methods: (a) Including a co

  • 2026 HB1306 amend

    o the counting of absentee ballots. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Absentee Ballot Certificate. Amend RSA 657 by inserting after section 23 the following new section: 657:23-a Absentee Ballot Certificate. I. The secretary of state shall prepare and distribute to each town or ward clerk 2 copies of the absentee ballot ce

  • 2026 HB1342 amend · effective 2027-01-01

    ng Act. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Subdivision; Uniform Transparency of Absentee and UOCAVA Records. Amend RSA 657 by inserting after section 26 the following new subdivision: Uniform Transparency of Absentee and UOCAVA Records 657:27 Public Access to Voting Records. I. In this section: (a) “Absentee voter” means a vote

  • 2026 HB1382 amend · effective 2026-01-01

    hort Title. This act shall be known as the "New Hampshire UOCAVA Voter Citizenship Verification Act of 2026." 2 New Subdivision; UOCAVA Voter Citizenship Verification. Amend RSA 657 by inserting after section 26 the following new subdivision: UOCAVA Voter Citizenship Verification 657:27 Purpose. The purpose of this act is to ensure the integrity of the electoral process by requiring Uniformed

  • 2026 HB158 amend

    general court. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Paragraph; Addresses Receiving Multiple Absentee Ballots. Amend RSA 657:15 by inserting after paragraph I the following new paragraph: I-a. The secretary of state shall review absentee ballot data after each general election to identify absentee ballot requests that should be forwarded to th

  • 2026 HB281 amend

    the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 Absentee Voting; Procedure for Absence; Religious Observance; and Disability and Overseas Voting. Amend RSA 657:15, II - III-a to read as follows: II. Candidates whose names appear on the ballot and persons bearing notarized requests or copies of notarized requests from candidates whose names appear on the ballot may obtain a list

  • 2025 HB136 amend

    ery of an absentee ballot from 5:00 p.m. to the close of the polls. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 Procedure by Voter; Delivery of Absentee Ballots. Amend RSA 657:17, III to read as follows: III. The city or town clerk, or ward clerk on election day at the polls, shall not accept an absentee ballot from a delivery agent unless the delivery agent completes a form provided b

  • 2025 HB217 amend

    54:15, except that in the case of an absentee voter they shall accept an absentee registration affidavit with supporting documentation and a registration form. 3 Verification of In-Person Absentee Voter. Amend RSA 657:17-a to read as follows: 657:17-a Verification of In-Person Absentee Voter. I. An absentee voter who returns his or her completed absentee ballot to the clerk's office in person shall be treated as a verified voter