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RSA 669:26 · Absentee Voting

Title
LXIII: ELECTIONS
Chapter
669 · TOWN ELECTIONS
Status
current
Official source linked
Yes
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669:26 Absentee Voting. –

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I.

Every town which has adopted an official ballot system for town elections as provided in RSA 669:12 or 669:13 shall provide for absentee voting. Any eligible voter who is absent from such a town on the day of a town election, or who cannot appear in public on election day because of his or her observance of a religious commitment, or who, by reason of physical disability, is unable to vote in person may vote at a town election in accordance with the provisions of this section and RSA 669:27-669:29. 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 section and RSA 669:27-669:29. 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 town:

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(a)

A person who is elderly or infirm or who has a physical disability, 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 section and RSA 669:27-669:29 and may vote absentee on the Monday 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 section and RSA 669:27-669:29 and may vote absentee on the Monday 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 Monday 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. Source. 1979, 308:7; 410:1. 1981, 454:11. 2006, 136:3. 2010, 317:64, eff. July 18, 2010. 2016, 130:4, eff. May 27, 2016. 2018, 329:6, eff. Jan. 1, 2019.

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Source note

Source. 1979, 308:7; 410:1. 1981, 454:11. 2006, 136:3. 2010, 317:64, eff. July 18, 2010. 2016, 130:4, eff. May 27, 2016. 2018, 329:6, eff. Jan. 1, 2019.

Source history

  • 1979, 308:7; 410:1
  • 1981, 454:11
  • 2006, 136:3
  • 2010, 317:64, eff. July 18, 2010
  • 2016, 130:4, eff. May 27, 2016
  • 2018, 329:6, eff. Jan. 1, 2019

Related materials

Bill relationships

  • 2026 HB1107 reference

    cribed in paragraph II, shall not begin until that next annual meeting, and shall be by official ballot if the municipality has adopted the official ballot system, as set forth in RSA 669. [IV.] V. A town or district which has adopted this subdivision may vote at any subsequent annual meeting to change the number or manner of selection of its members-at-large or change the number of its alternate member

  • 2026 HB1125 amend

    ment provide for the election of cooperative school board members pursuant to this chapter, said election shall be with the use of the [non-partisan] official ballot system under [RSA 669] RSA 671. 7 Public Officers and Employees; Access to Governmental Records and Meetings; Meetings Open to Public. Amend RSA 91-A:2, I(c) to read as follows: (c) A caucus consisting of elected members of a public b

  • 2026 HB1272 amend

    Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Party Affiliation on the Official Ballot; Ballot Systems; Town Elections. Amend RSA 669 by inserting after section 13 the following new section: 669:13-a Party Affiliation on the Official Ballot. I. Any town that has adopted an official ballot system under RSA 669:12 or RSA 669:13 may vote to include

  • 2026 HB1319 reference

    by 3, the division shall be as even as possible over the 3 years. Election shall be by official ballot if the municipality has adopted the official ballot system, as set forth in RSA 669. III. A town or district which has adopted this subdivision may vote by official ballot at any subsequent annual meeting to change the number of the local fiscal accountability committee for towns and schools (FACTS) m

  • 2026 HB1418 amend

    for SB 2 towns. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Town Elections; Official Ballot Budget Threshold. Amend RSA 669 by inserting after section 25 the following new section: 669:25-a Official Ballot Warrant Articles; Minimum Voter Participation. In any town that has adopted the official ballot referendum form of meeting pursuant to

  • 2026 HB1526 reference

    cribed in paragraph II, shall not begin until that next annual meeting, and shall be by official ballot if the municipality has adopted the official ballot system, as set forth in RSA 669 or RSA 671. A budget committee shall be deemed duly constituted and able to conduct business once a quorum of its elected or appointed members-at-large have been sworn into office. IV. A town or district which has

  • 2026 HB463 amend

    all take the same oath as, serve in the same capacity as, and have all the powers of the recount official whom he or she has replaced.] 4 New Section; Conduct of Recount. Amend RSA 669 by inserting after section 32 the following new section: 669:32-a Conduct of Recount. The recount applicant, and their assistants shall have the right to observe the ballot inspections and participate in the recount u

  • 2026 HB590 reference

    les of agreement provide for the election of cooperative school board members pursuant to this chapter, said election shall be with the use of the non-partisan ballot system under RSA 669. V. The number of members and composition of cooperative school boards shall be in accordance with this section by July 1, 2026. Members whose terms expire prior to this date shall be elected pursuant to this section

  • 2026 SB653 reference

    cribed in paragraph II, shall not begin until that next annual meeting, and shall be by official ballot if the municipality has adopted the official ballot system, as set forth in RSA 669 or RSA 671. A budget committee shall be deemed duly constituted and able to conduct business once a quorum of its elected or appointed members-at-large have been sworn into office. IV. A town or district which has