Read the instructions printed at the top of the ballot before making your first selection. Instructions can vary slightly depending on the ballot design and the equipment used by your town or city.



In most cases, you should:



– Use the pen provided at the polling place.



– Find the oval beside your intended selection.



– Fill in the oval completely.



– Avoid check marks, circles, partial marks, or marks outside the oval.



– Select no more than the number of choices allowed.



– Review both sides of the ballot, if applicable.



– Check your selections before leaving the voting booth.



– Follow the election official’s instructions for casting the completed ballot.



Take your time while reviewing the ballot. If you are uncertain about a printed instruction, ask an election official for an explanation before marking or casting it.



An election official can explain the voting process and ballot instructions, but the official should not direct your selections.

How Do You Mark a New Hampshire Ballot?

Use the writing instrument supplied by election officials. The provided pen is selected to work with the town’s ballot paper and, where applicable, its ballot-counting equipment.



Using another type of pen, pencil, marker, or highlighter may result in a mark that is too light, smears, bleeds through the paper, or cannot be read properly by a ballot-counting device.



If the provided pen stops working or leaves an unclear mark, stop and ask for another one. Do not repeatedly trace over an uncertain mark without speaking to an election official. If the ballot has been marked incorrectly, you can ask for a replacement before casting it.

Use the Pen Provided at the Polling Place

Place your mark inside the oval beside the selection you want. Fill the oval completely without extending the mark into nearby text or another oval.



A fully filled oval is easier for both ballot-counting devices and hand-count teams to interpret. Avoid using symbols such as:

Fill In Each Oval Completely

Each contest tells you how many selections you may make. Some allow one selection, while others may permit more than one.



Read wording such as “vote for one,” “vote for not more than two,” or another printed limit. Do not select more choices than the stated number.



Selecting too many choices creates an overvote for that contest. An overvote can prevent the selections in that particular contest from being counted. It does not necessarily invalidate every properly marked contest on the ballot, but the best option is to correct the problem before casting the ballot.



If you notice an overvote while reviewing your ballot, ask an election official for a replacement.

Follow the Number-of-Choices Instruction

Leaving a contest blank is called an undervote. An undervote does not spoil your entire ballot.



You are not required to make a selection in every contest. If you intentionally or accidentally leave one blank, properly marked selections elsewhere on the ballot can still be counted.



A ballot-counting device may notify you about a blank contest, depending on how the equipment is configured. If that happens, you can decide whether to review the ballot or cast it with the contest left blank.



Election officials should not pressure you to make a selection. The decision to leave a contest blank belongs to you.

What Happens If You Leave a Contest Blank?

If you make a mistake before casting your ballot, stop marking it and contact an election official.



Do not:

What Should You Do If You Make a Mistake?

Tell an election official that you made a marking mistake and need a replacement. You do not need to explain your intended selections.



The general replacement process is:

How Do You Request a Replacement Ballot?

Do not erase or cross out a mistaken selection. An erasure may leave a readable mark, and crossing out one oval while filling another could make your intent unclear.



A counting device might interpret both marks as selections. During a hand count, unnecessary marks could also make the ballot more difficult to evaluate.



Requesting a replacement ballot creates a clean record of your intended selections and reduces the possibility of an overvote or unclear mark.



If you are unsure whether a mark requires a replacement, ask an election official before casting the ballot.

Can You Erase or Cross Out a Mistake?

Once a ballot is placed in the ballot box or accepted for casting, you generally cannot retrieve it to make changes. Review it while you are still in the voting booth.



Before casting, check that:

Review Your Ballot Before Casting It

A voter who needs assistance may ask an election official or another person permitted under New Hampshire procedures to help read or mark the ballot.



The helper must follow the voter’s directions. The voter remains responsible for deciding every selection.



Assistance may be helpful for voters who:

What If You Need Help Marking the Ballot?

New Hampshire polling places provide an accessible voting system for voters who need another method of marking the ballot. The system can help a voter complete the ballot privately while producing a paper ballot for casting.



Ask an election worker about the accessible equipment during check-in. You can also contact your town or city clerk in advance to confirm the equipment and request information about its operation.



Read the <a href="https://www.tpaction.com/new-hampshire-accessible-voting-equipment-curbside-voting">accessible voting in New Hampshire guide</a> for information about polling-place access, accessible equipment, voting assistance, and outside-the-polls voting.



If the accessible equipment does not operate properly, notify the moderator before making or casting further selections.

Can You Use Accessible Voting Equipment?

No. Ballot-counting procedures vary by town, city, and ward. Some polling places use an approved ballot-counting device, while others place completed ballots into a ballot box for hand counting.



The ballot itself remains a paper ballot in either process. The main difference is how it is counted after the voter casts it.



At a scanner location, you may be instructed to insert the ballot into the counting device. At a hand-count location, an election official will direct you to deposit it into the ballot box.



Follow the instructions provided at your assigned polling place. If you want to know which method your location uses, contact your town or city clerk before Election Day.

Does Every New Hampshire Town Use a Ballot Scanner?

If a ballot-counting device returns or rejects your ballot, keep the ballot and ask an election official why it was not accepted. Do not repeatedly insert it in different directions unless an official instructs you to do so.



A ballot may be returned because of:

What If the Ballot-Counting Device Rejects Your Ballot?

No. A scanner rejection does not automatically mean that your entire ballot is invalid.



The device may be alerting you to a particular marking issue or may be unable to read the ballot because of its position or condition. An election official can review the device message without asking how you intended to vote.



Keep the ballot private while requesting help. Do not hand it to another voter or show your selections to people who are not authorized to assist.



If you believe the ballot does not clearly show your intended selections, ask that it be spoiled and replaced before it is cast.

Does a Rejected Ballot Mean Your Entire Ballot Is Invalid?

A temporary scanner problem should not prevent you from completing the voting process. Election officials have procedures for securely handling ballots when a counting device is temporarily unavailable.



Follow the moderator’s instructions. Depending on the equipment and local procedure, voters may be directed to place completed ballots into a secured compartment for counting under the proper process.



Do not take your ballot outside, abandon it, or leave it on the scanner. Keep it secure until an election official explains where it should be deposited.



If the equipment issue is not being addressed or you cannot complete the process, follow the guidance for <a href="https://www.tpaction.com/new-hampshire-report-voting-problem-at-polling-place">reporting a voting problem at a New Hampshire polling place</a>.

What Happens If the Scanner Stops Working?

In a hand-count location, voters place their completed paper ballots into the designated ballot box. The ballots are counted using the town’s required procedures after voting ends.



The same marking rules still apply:

What Happens in a Hand-Count Town?

After you place your ballot into the counting device or ballot box, the ballot becomes part of the official voting records for that election.



If a counting device accepts the ballot, follow the exit instructions from election workers. If your location uses a ballot box, make sure you deposit the ballot in the correct place before leaving.



Once the ballot has been cast:

What Happens After You Cast Your Ballot?

Accurate voter registration can make polling-place check-in easier. Use <a href="https://www.tpaction.com/Vote">Register to Vote</a> to check your registration and confirm the address connected to your record.



If you are not registered, New Hampshire permits qualified voters to complete registration at their assigned polling place. Review the <a href="https://www.tpaction.com/new-hampshire-register-to-vote-at-polling-place-2026">New Hampshire Election Day voter registration guide</a> before going so you know which documents to bring.



You should also review the current <a href="https://www.tpaction.com/new-hampshire-voter-id-what-to-bring-to-vote-2026">New Hampshire voter ID requirements</a>. Registration, identification, ballot marking, and ballot casting are separate steps, so prepare for each one.

Confirm Your Registration Before Election Day

Use the <a href="https://www.tpaction.com/plan">plan to vote resource</a> to organize your Election Day information.



Before leaving home:



Confirm your registration.



Verify your assigned polling place.



Check the polling place’s hours.



Review current identification requirements.



Arrange any accessibility or marking assistance.



Bring required registration documents if registering at the polls.



Leave enough time to review the ballot without rushing.



At the polling place:



– Listen to the check-in instructions.



– Use only the pen provided.



– Fill each intended oval completely.



– Follow the selection limit for each contest.



– Review the entire ballot before casting.



– Ask for a replacement instead of erasing a mistake.



– Keep a rejected ballot and ask an official for help.



– Make sure the ballot is accepted or deposited before leaving.



Careful preparation and a final review can prevent most ballot-marking problems. If you make a mistake, remain calm and ask an election official for a replacement before casting the ballot.



Want to help more people find useful voter registration and voting information? <a href="https://www.tpaction.com/getinvolved">Get involved</a> and support efforts that help voters prepare.

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Learn how to mark and cast a New Hampshire ballot, how to get a replacement if you make a mistake, and what to do if a ballot scanner rejects it.

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How to Mark Your New Hampshire Ballot, and What to Do If You Make a Mistake