Municipal Election Filing Period Now Open, Voter Registration Events Announced

September 8, 2025

Kelli Barnaby, City Clerk for the City of Portsmouth NH, announced the filing period for candidates interested in running for office in the City of Portsmouth Municipal Election opened on September 2, 2025 and closes on Tuesday, September 16, 2025. The Municipal Elections take place on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.  Polling hours will be decided by the City Council at their meeting on September 8, 2025.

Non-Partisan Offices
The following non-partisan offices will be filled by the Municipal Election:

  • City Council (9 positions)
  • School Board (5 positions)
  • Fire Commission (2 positions)
  • Police Commission (2 positions) 

Requirements for Filing 
Any candidate filing for the Municipal Election must be a qualified voter in the City of Portsmouth, NH shall have been a resident of the City for at least two years immediately preceding the last Municipal Election, and may not hold any other Municipal Office once elected. Declarations of Candidacy will be accepted in the City Clerk’s office during regular business hours. All the filings must be made in person. The filing fee is $5 or it is free with the submittal of a petition with fifty signatures of qualified voters in the City.

Partisan Offices
Partisan Ward Officials seeking a Declaration of Candidacy (Moderator, Ward Clerk, Selectman, and Registrar of Voters) should contact their Party Chair, as these candidates are decided by Party Caucus. The filing fee is $1.

Voter Registration

Residents who are not yet registered to vote in Portsmouth are invited to take advantage of Voter Registration opportunities: 

  • Portsmouth Public Library on Thursday, September 18, 2025 from 5:30-7 pm
  • Portsmouth Farmers’ Market on Saturday, September 27, 2025 from 8 am-12 pm
  • Portsmouth Public Library on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 from 5:30-7 pm
  • Portsmouth Farmers’ Market on Saturday, October 11, 2025 from 8 am-12 pm 

Voters participate by Ward, depending on their home address. For details on Portsmouth’s five Wards, please visit the voting information page on the City’s website. The last day to register to vote in the Municipal Elections is October 22, 2025.

Voter Registration Requirements

To register to vote in Portsmouth, you need to be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old on election day, and a Portsmouth resident. You will need proof of identity, age, U.S. Citizenship, and a Portsmouth domicile. Some examples of proof documentation include, but are not limited to:

  • Identity – Driver’s license, government-issued ID, U.S. passport
  • Age – Driver’s license, government-issued ID, U.S. passport
  • U.S. Citizenship – Birth certificate, naturalization certificate, U.S. passport/passcard
  • Portsmouth Domicile – Driver’s license, government-issued ID, vehicle registration, tax document, government-issued check (all with current domicile address listed)

City Clerk Office Hours
The City Clerk’s office is open on Mondays, 8 am to 6 pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 am to 4:30 pm, Wednesdays, 9 am to 4:30 pm, and Fridays, 8 am to 1 pm. The office will have extended hours on Tuesday, September 16 from 8 am to 5 pm for candidates wishing to file. For more information, visit: portsnh.co/votinginfo.