The New Hampshire state primary will take place this  Tuesday, Sept. 13, and University of New Hampshire (UNH) students may have some questions about where and how to vote. Here’s the breakdown.

Any UNH student can vote via an absentee ballot in their home district if they are in state or can register to vote in the town of Durham. 

Out-of-state students are also welcome to register to vote in New Hampshire and can do so at the polls on election day. Students will need to bring a valid form of a photo ID and proof of residency. Acceptable documents include a piece of mail, documentation from UNH, or a residential lease. If no acceptable documents are made available, students can sign a domicile affidavit.

Durham voters can vote in person at Oyster River Middle School located at 55 Coe Drive.

Sample ballots can be found here, with some changes to the ballot made since 2020 due to redistricting throughout the state.

UNH political science professor Dante Scala noted that many students do not vote in primary elections, especially in a midterm year. 

“College students typically do not have much impact in midterm elections, because their age group participates much less than older people,” he noted. “The only way to change that is to vote – and to encourage peers to do so.”

The state primary will determine which Democrat and Republican candidates will end up on the general election ballot on Nov. 8. That election will determine which politicians will represent New Hampshire in the State House of Representatives, State Senate, in Congress and in local counties.

Further information on where candidates stand on issues can also be found online for students unsure of who to bubble in on their ballots.