Ballot access requirements for political candidates in New Hampshire

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Note: This article is not intended to serve as an exhaustive guide to running for public office. Individuals should contact their state election agencies for further information.

In order to get on the ballot in New Hampshire, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

  1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
  2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
  3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in New Hampshire. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, see "Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in New Hampshire." Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

DocumentIcon.jpg See state election laws

Year-specific filing information

2024

U.S. Senate

For information on candidate ballot access requirements in New Hampshire, click here.

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in New Hampshire in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in New Hampshire, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2024
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
New Hampshire U.S. House Ballot-qualified party 100 $50.00 6/14/2024 Source
New Hampshire U.S. House Unaffiliated 1,500 $50.00 8/6/2024 Source


For filing information from previous years, click "[Show more]" below.

Show more

2022

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in New Hampshire in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in New Hampshire, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2022
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
New Hampshire U.S. Senate Ballot-qualified party N/A $100.00 6/10/2022 Source
New Hampshire U.S. Senate Unaffiliated 3,000, including 1,500 from each of the state's two congressional districts $100.00 6/10/2022 Source

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in New Hampshire in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in New Hampshire, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2022
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
New Hampshire U.S. House Ballot-qualified party 100 $50.00 6/10/2022 Source
New Hampshire U.S. House Unaffiliated 1,500 $50.00 6/10/2022 Source

Governor

The table below details filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates in New Hampshire in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in New Hampshire, click here.

Filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates, 2022
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
New Hampshire Governor Ballot-qualified party N/A $100.00 6/10/2022 Source
New Hampshire Governor Unaffiliated 3,000 $100.00 6/10/2022 Source

2020

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in New Hampshire in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in New Hampshire, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2020
State Office Party Signatures required Signature formula Filing fee Filing fee formula Filing deadline Source
New Hampshire U.S. Senate Qualified party N/A N/A $100.00 Fixed number 6/12/2020 Source
New Hampshire U.S. Senate Unaffiliated 3000 Fixed number $100.00 Fixed number 9/2/2020 Source

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in New Hampshire in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in New Hampshire, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2020
State Office Party Signatures required Signature formula Filing fee Filing fee formula Filing deadline Source
New Hampshire 1st Congressional District Qualified party N/A N/A $50.00 Fixed number 6/12/2020 Source
New Hampshire 2nd Congressional District Qualified party N/A N/A $50.00 Fixed number 6/12/2020 Source
New Hampshire 1st Congressional District Unaffiliated 1,500 Fixed number $50.00 Fixed number 9/2/2020 Source
New Hampshire 2nd Congressional District Unaffiliated 1,500 Fixed number $50.00 Fixed number 9/2/2020 Source

State House

The table below details filing requirements for New Hampshire House of Representatives candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber name Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
New Hampshire House of Representatives Qualified party N/A $2.00 6/12/2020 Source
New Hampshire House of Representatives Unaffiliated 150 $2.00 6/12/2020 Source

State Senate

The table below details filing requirements for New Hampshire State Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber name Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
New Hampshire State Senate Qualified party N/A $10.00 6/12/2020 Source
New Hampshire State Senate Unaffiliated 750 $10.00 6/12/2020 Source

2018

See also: State and federal candidate filing deadlines for 2018 and New Hampshire elections, 2018

See below for 2018 candidate filing deadlines.

June 15, 2018

2016

See also: New Hampshire elections, 2016

The calendar below lists important filing deadlines for political candidates in 2016.

Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016
Deadline Event type Event description
June 1, 2016 Ballot access Filing period opens for all candidates
June 10, 2016 Ballot access Filing period closes for primary election
August 10, 2016 Ballot access Nomination papers for independent candidates and political organizations must be filed with supervisors of the checklist for certification
August 24, 2016 Campaign finance First primary election campaign finance report due
August 31, 2016 Ballot access Deadline for supervisors of the checklist to certify nomination papers
September 7, 2016 Ballot access Deadline for independent candidates and political organizations to file nomination papers with the secretary of state
September 7, 2016 Campaign finance Second primary election campaign finance report due
September 13, 2016 Election date Primary election
September 21, 2016 Campaign finance Last primary election campaign finance report due
October 19, 2016 Campaign finance First general election campaign finance report due
November 2, 2016 Campaign finance Second general election campaign finance report due
November 8, 2016 Election date General election
November 16, 2016 Campaign finance Last general election campaign finance report due
Source: New Hampshire Secretary of State, "Political Calendar 2016-2017," accessed October 28, 2015

2015


2014


Process to become a candidate

Primary petition papers, 2013

DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: New Hampshire Revised Statutes, Chapter 655: Nominations

For party candidates

A recognized political party candidate seeking placement on the primary election ballot must file a declaration of candidacy. On this declaration, the candidate must affirm that he or she is both a registered voter and a registered member of the party whose nomination he or she is pursuing.[2]

In addition to filing the declaration of candidacy, the candidate must do one of the following.[3]

1.) Pay an administrative assessment fee. Fees are established by state law and vary according to the office being sought.[3][4]

Administrative assessment fees
Office Fee
Governor, United States Senator $100
United States Representative $50
Executive Councilor $25
State Senator $10
State Representative $2

2.) File primary petitions. The number of required petition papers (each of which contains one signature) is established by state law and varies according to the office being sought.[3][4]

Primary petitions
Office Number of petitions
Governor, United States Senator 200
United States Representative 100
Executive Councilor 50
State Senator 20
State Representative 5

A written "assent to candidacy" must accompany the submitted primary petitions.[3][5]

A candidate for state-level office must also file a financial disclosure form.[6]

Filing paperwork for most offices is submitted to the New Hampshire Secretary of State. Filing paperwork for state House candidates is submitted to the town or city clerk of the municipality where the candidate resides. Filings must be made between the first Wednesday in June and the Friday of the following week.[3][7]

For nonparty candidates

A candidate seeking placement on the general election ballot must file a declaration of intent. The declaration of intent must be filed between the first Wednesday in June and the Friday of the following week.[8][9]

In addition to filing this declaration, the candidate must do one of the following.[3]

1.) Pay an administrative assessment fee. Fees are established by state law and vary according to the office being sought.[3]

Administrative assessment fees
Office Fee
Governor, United States Senator $100
United States Representative $50
Executive Councilor $25
State Senator $10
State Representative $2

2.) File nomination papers. Nomination papers must include the name and residence of the candidate, the office being sought, and the political organization or principles the candidate represents. The number of required nomination papers (each of which contains one signature) is established by state law and varies according to the office being sought.[3][10]

Nomination papers
Office Number of papers
Governor, United States Senator 3,000**
United States Representative 1,500
Executive Councilor 750
State Senator 750
State Representative 150
** Of the 3,000 required signatures/papers, 1,500 must be collected from each of the state's two congressional districts.

A candidate for state-level office must also file a financial disclosure form.[6]

Prior to final filing, nomination papers must be submitted for certification to the Supervisors of the Checklist in each town or city where signatures were collected. Nomination papers must be submitted for certification by 5:00 p.m. on the Wednesday five weeks before the primary. Nomination papers are ultimately due to the New Hampshire Secretary of State by 5:00 p.m. on the Wednesday before the primary.[3]

For write-in candidates

A write-in candidate does not need to file any special forms in order to have his or her votes tallied. In the event that a write-in candidate wins the nomination of a party at a primary election, he or she is required to file a declaration of candidacy with the New Hampshire Secretary of State no later than the first Monday following the primary election. Also, a write-in candidate must have received at least 35 votes in order to be considered the winner of a primary election.[11]

Petition requirements

See also: Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions

In some cases, candidates may need to obtain signatures via the petition process to gain access to the ballot. This section outlines the laws and regulations pertaining to petitions and circulators in New Hampshire.

Format requirements

The Secretary of State is required by state law to prepare and provide all necessary filing forms, including primary petitions and nomination papers.[12]

Signature requirements

Individuals who sign primary petitions must meet the following requirements:[13]

  • be qualified to vote for a candidate for the office specified
  • be registered members of the party whose nomination the candidate seeks

Individuals who sign nomination papers must be registered voters. Nomination papers must be dated in the year of the election.[14][15]

The relevant statutes do not specify particular requirements that petition circulators must meet (such as residency or pay status).

Objections

Objections may be made to nomination papers by the Monday following the deadline to file papers. Objections must be made in writing. The relevant statutes do not specify an objections procedure for primary petitions.[16]

Noteworthy events

2015

On February 11, 2015, HB 665 was introduced in the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Had it been enacted, the bill would have lowered nomination paper signature requirements as follows:[17]

  • Candidates for governor or United States Senator would have been required to submit signatures equaling one-tenth of 1 percent of the total population of each of the state's two congressional districts.
  • Candidates for United States Representative, state senator, or state representative would have been required to submit signatures equaling one-tenth of 1 percent of the total population of the applicable electoral district.

On March 4, 2015, the New Hampshire House of Representatives voted 56 to 286 against the bill.[18]

Election-related agencies

Seal of New Hampshire
See also: State election agencies

New Hampshire Secretary of State

State House, Room 204
107 North Main Street
Concord, New Hampshire 03301
Telephone: 603-271-3242
Fax: 603-271-6316
Email: elections@sos.state.nh.us
Website: http://www.sos.nh.gov
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Term limits

State executives

State Executive Officials
See also: State executives with term limits and States with gubernatorial term limits

New Hampshire does not place term limits on state executive offices.

State legislators

See also: State legislatures with term limits

New Hampshire does not place term limits on state legislators.

Congressional partisanship

Portal:Legislative Branch
See also: List of United States Representatives from New Hampshire and List of United States Senators from New Hampshire

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the congressional delegation from New Hampshire.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from New Hampshire
Party U.S. Senate U.S. House Total
Democratic 2 2 4
Republican 0 0 0
Independent 0 0 0
Vacancies 0 0 0
Total 2 2 4

State legislative partisanship

Portal:State legislatures

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the state legislature of New Hampshire.

New Hampshire State Senate

Party As of January 2024
     Democratic Party 10
     Republican Party 14
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 24

New Hampshire House of Representatives

Party As of January 2024
     Democratic Party 195
     Republican Party 198
     Independent 2
     Other 1
     Vacancies 4
Total 400

Related legislation

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The embedded table below lists state bills affecting ballot access requirements for candidates introduced in New Hampshire. The following information is included for each bill:

  • State
  • Bill number
  • Official name or caption
  • Most recent action date
  • Legislative status
  • Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized alphabetically, first by state and then by bill number. To view additional results, use the arrows in the upper-right corner of the table. For more information about a particular bill, simply click the bill number. This will open a separate page with additional information.

Ballotpedia’s comprehensive Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker is the basis for this data. This user-friendly tracker covers thousands of election-related bills in state legislatures, and organizes them by topic with neutral, expert analysis from Ballotpedia’s election administration researchers.

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See also

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External links

Official state and federal links

Other information

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Phone call with the office of the New Hampshire Secretary of State on September 12, 2013.
  2. ↑ New Hampshire Revised Statutes, "Title LXIII, Section 655:17," accessed March 24, 2014
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 New Hampshire Secretary of State, "New Hampshire - Filing Period," accessed March 24, 2014
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 New Hampshire Revised Statutes, "Title LXIII, Section 655:19-c," accessed March 24, 2014
  5. ↑ New Hampshire Revised Statutes, "Title LXIII, Section 655:25," accessed March 25, 2014
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 New Hampshire Secretary of State, "Election Forms," accessed March 24, 2014
  7. ↑ New Hampshire Revised Statutes, "Title LXIII, Section 655:14," accessed March 24, 2014
  8. ↑ New Hampshire Revised Statutes, "Title LXIII, Section 655:17-a," accessed March 24, 2014
  9. ↑ New Hampshire Revised Statutes, "Title LXIII, Section 655:14-a," accessed March 24, 2014
  10. ↑ New Hampshire Revised Statutes, "Title LXIII, Section 655:42," accessed March 24, 2014
  11. ↑ New Hampshire Revised Statutes, "Title LXIII, Section 659:88," accessed March 24, 2014
  12. ↑ New Hampshire Revised Statutes, "Title LXIII, Section 655:13," accessed March 24, 2014
  13. ↑ New Hampshire Revised Statutes, "Title LXIII, Section 655:21," accessed March 24, 2014
  14. ↑ New Hampshire Revised Statutes, "Title LXIII, Section 655:40," accessed March 24, 2014
  15. ↑ New Hampshire General Court, "HB 1542 - Version Adopted by Both Houses," accessed April 21, 2014
  16. ↑ New Hampshire Revised Statutes, "Title LXIII, Section 655:44," accessed March 24, 2014
  17. ↑ LegiScan, "Bill Text: NH HB665 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced," accessed February 18, 2015
  18. ↑ Ballot Access News, "New Hampshire Ballot Access Bill Loses on House Floor," March 5, 2015
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