City Clerk

Elections & Voting

State General/Presidential Election Ballot Information

State General Sample Ballots

Sample ballots for State General:

Ward 1    Ward 2 Ward 3    Ward 4    Ward 5

Voter Registration

The City Clerk’s Office accepts voter registrations from Keene residents Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM up to 6 to 13 days before an election. To register you must be able to prove identity, age, domicile, and citizenship. If you are unable to stop by during open registration, there are other registration opportunities such as voter drives, at a Checklist Supervisor’s session or on election day at the polls.

More about qualifications to Register in New Hampshire

With the recent passage of House Bill 1569, voters in NH are no longer able to sign an affidavit to prove their qualifications to register. Please review the guidance provided below for further information.

IDENTITY: Various forms of photo ID may be accepted to confirm identity, or some other reasonable proof of identity may be provided.

AGE: A birth certificate, U.S. Passport, or some other document listing name and date of birth may be provided.

CITIZENSHIP: A birth certificate (if U.S. born) or a U.S. Passport will provide proof of citizenship. For non-U.S. born individuals naturalization papers, or one of the different forms issued by the United States Department of State, such as a “Consular Report of Birth Abroad,” “Certification of Birth Abroad,” or “Certificate of Citizenship,” may be provided.

DOMICILE: A person who possesses one of the following qualified documents identifying their name and address must present that document when applying: a NH driver’s license or Non-driver ID card, a resident vehicle registration, a picture ID issued by the United States government that contains a current address, or a government issued check, benefit statement, or tax document.  Applicants not possessing one of the qualified domicile proof documents listed above may sign an attestation form and provide alternative documentation confirming domicile may present any reasonable documentation of having established a physical presence at the place claimed as domicile, having an intent to make that place their domicile, and having taken a verifiable act to carry out that intent.

Any questions regarding needed documentation can be directed to the City Clerk’s Office.

For more information about voting in the State of New Hampshire and how recent laws affect you, please visit the  State of New Hampshire Secretary of State’s website for further details.

To view your voter information (party registration, polling place location and absentee ballot status), please visit the State of New Hampshire Secretary of State’s website. 

Where Do I Vote?

The City of Keene is broken into five separate Wards.

To view what streets are assigned to each Ward click here

Please click here to view a City Ward Map.

Where do I Vote?

Ward 1: Michael E.J. Blastos Community Room
400 Marlboro Street
(adjacent to Keene Police Department)

Ward 2: Keene Parks & Rec. Dept.
312 Washington Street

Ward 3: Keene Middle School
167 Maple Avenue

Ward 4: Symonds School
79 Park Avenue

Ward 5: Monadnock Covenant Church
90 Base Hill Road

*Polls are open 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Please click here to view a map of the polling locations in Keene.

Absentee Voting

Please click on the applicable link below to download an absentee ballot request form which can be printed and mailed to your City or Town Clerk to request a ballot:

Local Elections Absentee Ballot Request

State/Federal Elections Absentee Ballot Request

Federal Postcard Application for an Absentee Ballot

(For Uniformed Service Members, their families, and citizens residing outside the U.S.)

Municipal Elections Absentee Ballot Request – to be posted when available

Eligibility to vote Absentee

You may vote by Absentee ballot based on one of the following qualifiers:

1. You plan to be absent on the day of the election from the city, town, or unincorporated place where you are domiciled.
   
2. You cannot appear in public on election day because of observance of a religious commitment.
   
3. You are confined in a penal institution for a misdemeanor or while awaiting trial.
   
4. You are unable to vote in person due to a disability.  
   
5. You cannot appear at any time during polling hours at your polling place because of an employment obligation. For the purposes of this application, the term “employment” shall include the care of children and infirm adults, with or without compensation.
   

Application for an Absentee Ballot

Application for an Absentee Ballot may be obtained by either calling or appearing in person at your city or town clerk’s office. Once the Absentee Ballots have been received by the Clerk a voter appearing in person shall be given their Ballot in hand, all other requests shall be fulfilled by mailing the Ballot to the voter.

As an alternative to completing the request form the voter may write a letter of request for an Absentee Ballot and submit by mail or via fax to the city or town clerk’s office.

If you are a Keene voter, mail your request to:

3 Washington Street
Keene, NH 03431

Or fax it to the following number: (603) 283-5653

PLEASE NOTE: If you are requesting an Absentee Ballot for a partisan election, please be sure to indicate whether you want a Republican or Democratic Ballot. Please contact your city or town clerk to confirm your party affiliation.

Follow this link to view the status of your pending absentee ballot request.

Returning your Ballot

Make your vote count! Carefully follow the instructions enclosed with your Ballot. After marking your Ballot place it in the small envelope and seal said envelope, then sign the affidavit which fits your particular situation. After you have signed the proper affidavit with your full name, place the envelope containing the ballot into the mailing envelope. Affix the proper postage and mail the envelope, or personally deliver it to the city or town clerk so that it is received before 5:00 p.m. on the day before the election. Ballots may only be hand delivered to the city clerk’s office by the voter, or the voter’s designated delivery agent*.  If a ballot is returned by a delivery agent, they will be asked to show photo identification and sign an Absentee Ballot Return Form as required by state law (RSA 657:17).

PLEASE NOTE: Absentee ballots delivered by mail shall be accepted by the town or city clerk up to 5:00 p.m. election day.

*AUTHORIZED DELIVERY AGENTS:

1. The voter’s spouse, parent, sibling, child, grandchild, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son in-law, daughter-in-law, stepparent, stepchild; or
2. The nursing home administrator, licensed pursuant to RSA 151-A:2, or a nursing home staff member designated in writing by the administrator to deliver ballots; or
3. The residential care facility administrator, or a residential care facility staff member designated in writing by the administrator to deliver ballots,; or
4. **The person assisting a blind voter or a voter with a disability who has signed a statement on the affidavit envelope acknowledging the assistance. **Cannot deliver more than 4 absentee ballots.

All delivery agents will be required to complete an Absentee Ballot Return Form and present photo identification.  Any person who votes or attempts to vote using an absentee ballot who is not entitled to vote by absentee ballot shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. RSA 657:24

Election Volunteers and Election Training

Election Volunteer Form
Election Training Form