In 2023 the City of Keene will hold two local elections, the Municipal Primary scheduled for October 3, 2023, and the Municipal General Election scheduled for November 7, 2023.  Information on offices to be elected and how to file to run for office can be found below. 

Offices on the ballot at our Municipal Elections include: Mayor, Ward Councilors, Councilors-at-Large, Ward Moderators, Ward Selectmen, Ward Clerks and Ward Checklist Supervisors.  Those interested in running for one of these offices must be a registered voter in the ward or voting district they would be representing.  The last day to register to vote before the filing period begins is Tuesday, August 15, 2023.  There will be a session of the Checklist Supervisors that evening from 7:00 PM to 7:30 PM in City Hall Lobby.

There are two ways to file for office:

1. By completing a Declaration of Candidacy form at the Office of the City Clerk and paying a filing fee of $5.00 to run for Mayor, or $2.00 for all other offices on the ballot.  The filing period by declaration begins at 8:00 AM on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, and continues until 5:00 PM on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.     

2. By collecting the signatures of 50 duly qualified registered voters in the ward or voting district and submitting your petition to the Office of the City Clerk.  The filing period by petition begins at 8:00 AM on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, and continues until 5:00 PM on Friday, September 8, 2023.  This option does not require a filing fee.  Petition forms can be obtained from the City Clerk.

Do you have questions about the duties and obligations of one of these positions, or considering throwing your hat in the ring?  Please contact us with any questions and we would be happy to assist! 

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, residency and citizenship. A New Hampshire Driver’s License with your current Keene address will provide proof of identity, age and residency. An affidavit is available to prove identity, citizenship and domicile. Any questions regarding needed documentation can be directed to the City Clerk’s Office.

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. Please contact us with any questions.

Looking 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. 

The City of Keene is broken into five separate Wards. To view what streets are assigned to each Ward, click on the link below: City of Keene Street Index

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.

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 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