Town moderator: Plaistow election March 11, voters must bring photo ID under new law

Bob Harvey, Plaistow’s town moderator, told the Board of Selectmen on March 3 that the town election will be held March 11 at the Fish and Game building, with polling hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Harvey said the ballot is six pages (front and back) and includes Timberlane School District items, town officers and warrant articles. He urged voters to review the warrant and voters’ guide in advance to speed voting. The town will test ballot machines March 4 at 2 p.m. in Town Hall; members of the public were invited to observe the machine test.

Harvey highlighted a new change in state election law that requires voters to present photo identification if checklist personnel cannot identify them, and he said the previous option to sign a challenge-voter affidavit without ID is no longer available. He also summarized changes affecting same-day registration: registrants who attempt to register at the polls must bring identification and documents proving citizenship, age and domicile or they will not be allowed to register that day.

Harvey said Plaistow normally expects about 1,100–1,200 voters at town elections and will run all three voting machines during this election to reduce lines. He asked for volunteers to help count ballots after the polls close and explained that ballots are segregated (school, officials, warrant articles) and sealed in separate boxes for potential recounts.

He also noted standard election-day rules about lectioneering locations and said the junior firefighters’ bake sale will operate at the polling site after voting concludes.