New Hampshire requires voters to establish their identity when requesting an in-person ballot. The most direct method is presenting an accepted photo ID.



Current accepted forms include:



– A qualifying driver license



– A qualifying state nondriver identification card



– A U.S. passport



– A U.S. passport card



– A U.S. military photo identification card



– A New Hampshire voting-only photo identification card



– Personal verification by an authorized local election official who knows the voter



The identification should display your photograph and name. Your name should substantially match the name in your voter registration record.



Check the current New Hampshire Secretary of State guidance immediately before voting because identification rules and official instructions can change.

What ID Do I Need to Vote in New Hampshire?

A qualifying driver license is an accepted form of photo identification. Review the current state guidance if your license was issued outside New Hampshire or is expired.



Before Election Day, check that your license:

Is a Driver License Accepted?

A qualifying nondriver photo identification card may be used to establish identity. This includes an eligible New Hampshire nondriver ID issued through the Division of Motor Vehicles.



The card should show your:

Can I Use a Nondriver ID?

Yes. A U.S. passport or passport card is an accepted form of voter identification in New Hampshire.



A passport can be useful if:

Can I Use a U.S. Passport?

Yes. A qualifying U.S. military identification card bearing your photograph may be used.



Present the physical identification to the ballot clerk or appropriate election official at check-in. If the card does not display an expiration date or uses a format different from civilian identification, ask the official to review it under the current state guidance.



Do not provide more personal information than election officials request.

Is a U.S. Military ID Accepted?

No. Student identification cards cannot be used to establish identity for voting in New Hampshire under the rules in effect for the November 3, 2026 election.



This restriction includes student IDs issued by educational institutions. A student who is otherwise eligible and properly domiciled in New Hampshire may still register and vote, but the student must use another accepted method to establish identity.



Possible alternatives include:

Can I Use a Student ID?

There is no general voter-ID affidavit that allows an already registered voter without accepted identification to receive a ballot simply by signing a statement.



This is an important change from procedures voters may remember from earlier elections. Do not rely on old instructions describing a challenged-voter affidavit as a routine substitute for photo identification.



An authorized election official may be able to verify your identity if that official personally knows you. Otherwise, you may need to leave, obtain acceptable identification and return before the polls close.



A separate procedure may apply to a voter with a qualifying religious objection to being photographed. Contact the New Hampshire Secretary of State or your local clerk before Election Day for current instructions if that situation applies to you.

Is There a Voter-ID Affidavit Fallback?

A moderator, clerk, supervisor of the checklist or selectman may verify your identity if that authorized official personally knows you.



This is not the same as presenting someone who recognizes you casually. The authorized official must be willing to personally verify your identity under the election procedure.



A ballot clerk who distributes ballots does not independently have the authority to verify your identity merely because the ballot clerk recognizes you. The clerk may refer you to an official who has verification authority.



Officials who may have authority include:

Can a Moderator Verify My Identity?

Recognition alone may not be enough. The person must hold a position authorized to verify identity.



If a ballot clerk recognizes you but cannot perform the verification, ask whether a moderator, clerk, supervisor of the checklist or selectman is available.



The authorized official must personally know you well enough to confirm that you are the person listed in the voter registration record.



A friend, neighbor, family member or companion cannot replace the required identification by vouching for you unless that person is also an authorized official acting within the official verification procedure.

What If an Election Worker Recognizes Me?

For most voters, an otherwise qualifying photo ID may generally be expired for no more than five years. A different rule applies to voters who are 65 or older: an otherwise qualifying form of identification may be used without regard to its expiration date.



Before relying on an expired ID, confirm:

Can I Use an Expired Photo ID?

Your identification name must substantially conform to the name in your voter registration record. Small differences may not automatically cause a problem, but a major name change can delay check-in.



Examples of possible differences include:

What If My Name Changed?

A registered voter does not ordinarily need to use the photo ID to prove domicile at ballot check-in. However, your voter registration and domicile determine the correct New Hampshire town, city ward and polling place.



If you moved:

What If I Moved?

A voter who is already registered generally does not need to bring separate proof of age, domicile or U.S. citizenship merely to receive a ballot. The voter must establish identity using an accepted method.



That means an already registered voter should focus on:

What If I Am Already Registered?

New Hampshire permits qualified residents to register at the polls. Registration is a separate process from checking in as an already registered voter.



A registration applicant should be prepared to establish:

What If I Need to Register at the Polls?

A voter who does not have an accepted photo ID may qualify for a free New Hampshire identification card for voting purposes only.



The process generally begins with obtaining the required authorization or voucher from a local clerk or the New Hampshire Secretary of State. The voter then visits a New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles location that issues identification cards.



Before starting, confirm:

How Can I Get a Free Voting-Only Photo ID?

If you arrive without accepted identification, ask whether an authorized official who personally knows you can verify your identity.



If no authorized official can verify you, you may need to retrieve an accepted photo ID and return before the polls close. There is no general affidavit substitute for a missing ID.



Take these steps:

What If I Forget My ID on Election Day?

If an election worker says your identification cannot be accepted, ask for the specific reason.



Possible issues include:

What If My ID Is Rejected?

When you <a href="https://www.tpaction.com/plan">plan to vote</a>, check your voter identification well before November 3.



Before leaving:



Verify your voter registration.



Confirm your polling place.



Check local voting hours.



Select an accepted photo ID.



Make sure the ID is readable.



Review the expiration date.



Confirm that the name substantially matches your registration.



Do not rely on a student ID.



Do not rely on a general voter-ID affidavit.



Arrange a free voting-only ID early if needed.



Contact your local clerk about any name difference.



Bring registration documents if you need to register at the polls.



Leave enough time to retrieve another ID if a problem occurs.



New Hampshire’s 2026 voter identification rules differ from the procedures used in previous elections. Review the current official guidance shortly before Election Day, bring the strongest accepted identification available and confirm your voter registration before going to the polls.



If you want to support voter registration and help other voters prepare, <a href="https://www.tpaction.com/getinvolved">get involved</a> and learn how you can assist with voter outreach in your community.

New Hampshire Voter ID Checklist

See which identification New Hampshire accepts at the polls in 2026, why student IDs are excluded, and what to do without an approved photo ID.

RioSlum Studio

New Hampshire Voter ID: What to Bring to Vote on November 3, 2026