28 Oct 2026

 

This is general information, NOT legal advice.
Contact information for questions is at the end of this email.
Updated on 10/28/2026 

The back-and-forth in the courts over student IDs has confused a lot of people, including some in the media and many on social media!!  With UNH right here in our community, here are the basic facts.

1. You can still register at the polls.
The deadline to register before Election Day has passed, but anyone not yet registered can register at the polls on November 3. Bring proof of identity, age, citizenship, and domicile. The Secretary of State’s updated guidance (October 23, 2026) explains what documents you need: Registering to Vote in New Hampshire. Note: students registering in Durham can show their Webcat or Housing Portal page to prove domicile, and off-campus students can show a lease, utility bill, etc.  See the full list in the link above.

2. Out-of-state students CAN vote here.
Some news coverage has mixed up the student ID law with the right of out-of-state students to vote in NH. Students from out of state, or from other NH towns, can vote in the town where they live while attending school, or in their home state or hometown, but not both (RSA 659:34). See the third question on the Secretary of State’s FAQ page and the last section of Registering to Vote in New Hampshire

3. Student IDs can’t be used.
HB 323, which took effect in June, removed student ID cards from the list of acceptable IDs for voting. This applies to all students, in-state and out-of-state. Open Democracy NH has challenged the law in federal court, and the case is ongoing, but last week the U.S. Supreme Court said it was too close to the election to change the rules. The restriction stands for November 3.

4. Bring an acceptable ID to get a ballot.
Every voter needs one of these at the polls:

  • A driver’s license from any state
  • A non-driver photo ID from NH or any other state
  • A U.S. armed services ID
  • A U.S. passport or passport card

Out-of-state students CAN use their home-state driver’s license to prove identity, both when registering and when voting.  However, to register, they’ll also need separate proof of domicile in the NH town where they’re registering.  See Secretary of State’s Election Day page

5. What if someone doesn’t have an acceptable ID?
A voter without an acceptable ID will be referred to an election official, who will determine whether the voter’s identity can be verified.

6. Getting to the polls on Election Day (7 a.m. – 7 p.m.)
Durham votes at Oyster River High School, 55 Coe Drive, about a mile from the core campus. UNH students have two free ride options all day:

  • UNH Transportation bus: Picks up at the HoCo bus stop on Main Street and the Sawyer Hall bus stop on Garrison Avenue.
  • NH Youth Movement vans: Pick up on Quad Way, in front of the stairs to the MUB.

 Questions or Concerns?