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Election Message from the Town of Stratham

Information about the November 3rd Polling Location
Posted on: October 30, 2020 - 8:21am

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Dear Stratham Residents,

The General Election to be held on November 3rd from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 pm at the Stratham Memorial School at 39 Gifford Farm Road is fast approaching.  This communication is intended to summarize information about what residents can expect on Election Day at the new polling location.

Preparations for this election have been closely coordinated between the Select Board, Town Moderator, Assistant Moderator, Town Clerk and Supervisors of the Checklist as well as our Health Officer.  This group’s objective is to ensure a safe and orderly election that is a credit to the Stratham community and in conformance with the State laws and guidance from the Secretary of State and State Attorney General’s Office.

As of this morning, the Town Clerk has received requests for – and mailed out - 2,699 absentee ballots and 2,392 have been returned.  There are a total of 6,922 voters on the voter checklist.

Please take note of the following additional details about what to expect at this new polling location.

Time and Place

  • The election will be held at the Stratham Memorial School, 39 Gifford Farm Road in Stratham.  Polls are open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  • Voting on November 3rd, will take place in the gym at the Stratham Memorial School. Voters will access the gym through the doorways facing the playground and playing fields of the school.  Please park in the large parking lot and follow the signage, which will mark the voting entrance location clearly.

Absentee Ballot Drop-off - Absentee Ballots Accepted Until 5:00 p.m. on Nov. 3rd

  • You can drop off your absentee ballot at the polling location (Stratham Memorial School) on the day of the election up until 5:00 p.m.  Follow the signage to drop off your absentee ballot.  Voters also have the option of dropping off ballots at the Municipal Center drop-box on the same day of the election (up until 5:00 p.m.).
  • According to state law, your ballot cannot be accepted after 5:00 p.m.   If you arrive after 5:00 p.m. to drop off your ballot, you will have the option to vote in person at the Stratham Memorial School until polls close.

Election Safety

  • Face coverings are required in all school buildings; in addition, face coverings are required by the Moderator.  If you need one; coverings will be made available at the entrance to the polling location. 
  • The larger polling location allows for greater social distancing.  Every effort has been made to spread out voters and election volunteers utilizing the best and most up to date guidance available.
  • Similar to the State Primary in September vertical plastic shields between ballot clerks and voters will be erected.  Floor markings will be used to space out voters queuing inside the building and in front of each ballot clerk location.

Electioneering

  • In New Hampshire, the Town Moderator is responsible for designating an area for electioneering to take place at the polling location.  For November 3rd, the Moderator has designated the large paved space across from the entrance doors to the gym.  This space is much larger than the previous polling locations have permitted and will be designated through the use of traffic barricades.  Electioneering participants are encouraged to exhibit respect for others by wearing face coverings and maintaining physical distance from each other and voters.

Thank you and Acknowledgments

For all elections, many Stratham residents step forward to help.  For this election, over 70 residents from Stratham will give of their time as ballot clerks, assistant moderators, and in other roles both on election day (and the weeks leading up to it).  In addition, members of our Public Works, Police & Fire departments and Town Office staff will work to manage pedestrian and traffic safety.  We are grateful for the commitment to the democratic process that these volunteers and Town staff exhibit.   Please join us in thanking them and honoring their work by helping us to keep them (and each other) safe at all times by complying with signage, keeping social distance, and wearing your face coverings.

We also want to thank the Stratham School Board and SAU 16 leadership and staff for their support in using the school facility for this election. There will be no school (district-wide) on November 3rd.