Elections & Voting

2024 Town Meeting Information 
Deliberative Session: March 13, 2024 7:00 PM

Election Day: April 9, 2024

The Town of Merrimack operates under a town charter form of government and follows NH RSA 40:13, also known as SB2 for budgetary and monetary items. SB2 is an “Official Ballot” form of government that encompasses a two-part session. The first session held in March is a traditional town meeting with discussion of warrant articles only. Articles can be amended at this session; however, voting on these articles does not take place until the second session. The second session, held in April, is all day ballot voting on the articles as well as election of town officers.

Town Meeting (first session of SB2) is held in the All-Purpose Room of the James Mastricola Upper Elementary School, located at 26 Baboosic Lake Road. The time of the meeting is posted with the warrant.

The polls are open from 7:00 AM. to 7:00 P.M. for all state and local elections.
There are three polling locations in Merrimack.  The polling locations are at:

James Mastricola Upper Elementary School located @ 26 Baboosic Lake Road
Merrimack Middle School located @ 31 Madeline Bennett Lane
St. John Neumann Church located @ 708 Milford Road

Click here to find your polling location:
Town of Merrimack Voting Map: https://merrimacknhgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=b94924e35c5f4793af4162db50acde6a

State of New Hampshire Polling Location search:Polling Place/Sample Ballot (nh.gov)

(***Please note:  This site is a State of NH site which does not display local election information.  All local elections in Merrimack are held at THE SAME location as state elections.)

VOTER REGISTRATION: 

In order to participate in local or state elections and meetings, you must be registered to vote. You must register to vote in person and may register to vote at the Town Clerk’s Office or at the polls on an election (not meeting) day. You must be 18 years of age, a U.S. citizen, and domiciled in the Town. You must present proof of age, I.D., domicile and citizenship.  Persons under the age of 18 may register to vote prior to turning 18 as long as they will be 18 by Election Day.

For more information regarding voter registration please click on this link: https://www.sos.nh.gov/elections/voters/register-vote

To check your voter registration and party affiliation status, you may search on-line at: https://app.sos.nh.gov/viphome

Voter Registration Sessions:  Voter registration applications may be completed at the Town Clerk's office during our normal business hours of 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.   Once completed, the application is forwarded to the Supervisors of the Checklist, who will need to accept the application at one of their posted, public meetings before you are considered a registered voter.

The Supervisors of the Checklist  have scheduled sessions for voter registration and/or changes to voter records on the following dates/times:

Tuesday, February 20, 2024 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM.  This is the last day to register to vote prior to the opening of Town/School candidate filing period.
Wednesday, February 28, 2024 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM.  This is the last day to register to vote to be on the checklist for the Town/School deliberative sessions
Saturday, March 16, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM.  This is the last day to register to vote to be on the checklist for the Merrimack Village District Meeting. 
Saturday, March 30, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM.  This is the last day to register to vote to be on the checklist for the Town/School Election Day.  Same day voter registration will be available at the Town/School election day.

These sessions are for unregistered persons to become a registered voter in Merrimack.    
  

Voter ID - During the 2012 legislative session the legislature passed a "Voter ID" law.  Current voter ID requirements can be found here: https://sos.nh.gov/media/aarlbztj/voter-id-law-2019.pdf

Important Upcoming Election Information and Dates:
Filing Period for Town offices will be held from February 21 to March 1, 2024. 
TO BE ELECTED:                                                               
3 Councilors for 3 years
1 Ethics Committee Members for 3 years
2 Library Trustees for 3 years
1 Trustee of the Trust Funds for 3 Years
1 Moderator for 2 years
1 Town Clerk/Tax Collector for 3 Years
1 Supervisor of the Checklist for 6 Years

Candidates must file with the Town Clerk to have their name placed on the ballot and must be a registered voter and domiciled in Merrimack. (RSA 669:6, 669:19)  Candidates for Town Council must also have been domiciled in Merrimack for at least one year. (Town Charter Article 3-4, C)

Town Meeting - Deliberative Session - March 13, 2024.  Continuation/snow date, if needed - March 15, 2024.
Town Meeting - Election Day - April 9, 2024.

Sample Ballot:  Sample ballots for upcoming elections/voting days will be posted and can be viewed, when they become available, by clicking the link at the bottom of this page.

Absentee Ballots:  3/28/24 - Now available

 New Hampshire law requires that you vote in person at the polling place for your town or ward unless you:

  1. Plan to be absent on the day of the election from the city, town, or unincorporated place in which you are registered to vote.
  2. Cannot appear in public on election day because of observance of a religious commitment.
  3. Are unable to vote in person due to a disability.
  4. Cannot appear at any time during polling hours at your polling place because an employment obligation requires you to remain physically at work or to be in transit to or from work from the time the polls open until after the time the polls close.  An employment obligation includes the care of children and infirm adults with or without compensation.
  5. A person based on their own health circumstances, medical authorities advise them to avoid going out in public. This applies to: 1) voters with symptoms of a communicable disease or illness; 2) voters who, due to their own health circumstances, limit public exposure in their day-to-day life as a preventative measure.

Absentee ballots can be requested up until 5:00 PM the day before the election.  A signed written request is required.  An official form can be used by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.  Requests may be made in person, via email (townclerk@merrimacknh.gov) through the mail, or by fax (603-423-8539). 

Please allow sufficient mailing time if requesting through the mail, email or fax.  Mailed requests should be addressed to: Town Clerk, Attn: Absentee Ballots, 6 Baboosic Lake Rd, Merrimack, NH 03054

If you are a Military Member or Overseas Citizen, please visit this website for voting assistance, voter registration and absentee ballot forms and information: https://www.fvap.gov

Ballots must be returned either in person by the voter or an immediate family member, or through the mail.  Ballots must be returned by 5:00 PM on election day.  Ballots received after this time will not be counted. 

If returning a ballot in person please allow sufficient time to do so.  You will now be required to show ID.  Ballots returned by immediate family members will also require the completion of an  affidavit in order for the ballot to be counted.  The town clerk's office highly recommends the return of a ballot through the mail to avoid waiting in anticipated long lines.

Ballots not returned in person or through the mail will NOT be counted.  Do not leave a ballot in the drop box, "dropped" at the window counter without a staff member waiting on you, or slipped under the door. These will NOT be counted.

Absentee Ballot Status can be checked by clicking on this link: https://www.sos.nh.gov/elections/voters/absentee-ballots

For more information regarding elections and voting, please visit the NH Secretary of State's website at: https://www.sos.nh.gov/

Supervisors of the Checklist membership information can be viewed by clicking HERE