2023 NH City Elections — Information for Candidates

The 2023 deadlines to file for local elected office for most New Hampshire cities are coming up! We’ve confirmed election dates, primary information, filing periods and positions on the ballot for all of New Hampshire’s cities in the upcoming municipal elections in New Hampshire.

As always, make sure you check with your city clerk’s office for all official and up-to-date information! We’ve included contact information for City Clerks here to make it as easy as possible.

Berlin

General Election: November 7, 2023

Primary Election: No Primary Election

Filing Period: September 25 – October 9

Positions on the Ballot:

  • Mayor
  • City Councilor (4)
  • School Board (4)
  • Library Trustee (3)
  • Moderator (4)
  • Ward Clerk (4)
  • Supervisor of the Checklist (12)

City Clerk: Shelli Fortin, Phone Number: (603) 752-2340, Email: sfortin@berlinnh.gov

 

Claremont

General Election: November 7, 2023

Primary Election: No Primary Election

Filing Period: September 20 – September 29

Positions on the Ballot:

  • Mayor 
  • Assistant Mayor 
  • At-Large Councilor (4) 
  • Councilor (1 for each of 3 Wards) 
  • Moderator (1 for each of 3 Wards) 
  • Ward Clerk (1 for each of 3 Wards) 
  • Supervisor of the Checklist (3 for each of 3 Wards)

City Clerk: Gwendolyn Melcher, (603) 542-7003, Email: cityclerk@claremontnh.com

 

Concord

General Election: November 7, 2023

Primary Election: No Primary Election

Filing Period: September 8 – September 18 (File By Petition: September 22)

Positions on the Ballot:

  • Mayor
  • At-Large Councilors (4 total, 4 year terms, Two are up for election in 2023)
  • Ward Councilors (1 for each of 10 Wards) 
  • Ward Moderator (1 for each of 10 Wards) 
  • Ward Clerk (1 for each of 10 Wards) 
  • Supervisor of the Checklist (1 for each of 10 wards) 
  • Board of Education (3 up for election in 2023, 1 each from District A (Wards 1-4), District B (Wards 5-7), and District C (Wards 8-10)

City Clerk: Janice Bonenfant, (603) 225-8500, Email: cityclerk@concordnh.gov

 

Dover

General Election: November 7, 2023

Primary Election: No Primary Election

Filing Period: September 11 – September 22

Positions on the Ballot:

  • Mayor
  • At-Large City Councilor (2)
  • At-Large School Board member (1) 
  • City Councilor (1 for each of 6 Wards)  
  • School Board member (1 for each of 6 Wards)  
  • Supervisor of the Checklist (1 for each of 6 Wards)
  • Moderator (1 for each of 6 Wards)
  • Ward Clerk (1 for each of 6 Wards)
  • Selectmen (3 for each of 6 Wards)

City Clerk: Susan Mistretta, (603) 516-6018, Email: s.mistretta@dover.nh.gov

 

Franklin

General Election: October 3, 2023

Primary Election: No Primary Election

Filing Period: August 16 – August 25

Positions on the Ballot: 

  • Mayor
  • City Councilor (1 for each of 3 Wards)
  • School Board (1 for each of 3 Wards)
  • Ward Clerk (Ward 3 only)
  • Supervisor of the Checklist (1 for each Ward, 2 positions for Ward 3 in 2023)

City Clerk: Michelle Stanyan, (603) 934-3109, Email: mstanyan@franklinnh.org

 

Keene

General Election: November 7, 2023

Primary Election: October 3, 2023 (Only if there are more than 2 candidates running for Mayor or Councilor)

Filing Period: August 16 – September 5

Positions on the Ballot: 

  • Mayor
  • Ward Councilors (1 for each of 5 Wards)
  • Councilors at Large (5)
  • Ward Moderator (1 for each of 5 Wards) 
  • Ward Clerk (1 for each of 5 Wards)
  • Ward Selectmen (3 each of 5 Wards)
  • Checklist Supervisor (1 for each of 5 wards) 

City Clerk: Patricia Little, (603) 352-0133 ext 2, email: plittle@keenenh.gov

 

Laconia

General Election: November 7, 2023

Primary Election: September 12 *Tentative date* (For the offices of Mayor and Ward Councilors, a primary election will be held when three or more declarations of candidacy are filed. If two or less declarations of candidacy are filed, the City Clerk shall deem the primary election unnecessary, and all names will appear on the municipal election ballot. For all other elected offices there shall be no primary election held.)

Filing Period: August 2 – August 11

Positions on the Ballot:

  • Mayor
  • Ward Councilor (1 for each of 6 wards)
  • Ward Moderator (1 for each of 6 wards)
  • Ward Clerk (1 for each of 6 wards)
  • Ward Selectman (1 for each of 6 wards)
  • Supervisor of the checklist (1 for each of 6 wards)
  • School Board (1 for Ward 4 and 1 for Ward 5)
  • Police Commission (2 positions for all Wards)

City Clerk: (603) 527-1265, Email: cityclerk@laconianh.gov

Manchester

General Election: November 7, 2023

Primary Election: September 19 

Filing Period: July 10 – 21

Positions on the Ballot:

  • Mayor
  • Alderman At – Large (2)
  • School Committeeman At-Large (2)
  • Alderman (1 for each of the 12 Wards)
  • School Committee member (1 for each of the 12 Wards)
  • Moderator (1 for each of the 12 Wards)
  • Ward Clerk (1 for each of the 12 Wards)
  • Selectman (3 for each of the 12 Wards)

City Clerk: (603) 624-6455 Email: cityclerk@manchesternh.gov

Nashua

General Election: November 7, 2023

Primary Election: September 12 (For mayor position only)

Filing Period: August 19 – September 8

Positions on the Ballot:

  • Mayor
  • Alderman At-Large (3)
  • Ward Alderman (1 each for 9 Wards)
  • Board of Education (5)
  • Fire Commissioner (3)
  • Board of Public Works (2)
  • Moderator (1 each for 9 Wards)
  • Ward Clerk (1 each for 9 Wards)
  • Selectmen (3 each for 9 Wards)

City Clerk: Daniel Healey, (603) 589-3010, email: CityClerkDept@nashuanh.gov

 

Portsmouth

General Election: November 7, 2023

Primary Election: No Primary Election

Filing Period: August 28 – September 12

Positions on the Ballots:

  • City Councilors At – Large (9)
  • School Board (4)
  • Fire Commissioner (1)
  • Police Commissioner (1)
  • Registrar At – Large (1)
  • Moderator (1 each for 5 Wards)
  • Clerk (1 each for 5 Wards)
  • Selectmen (3 each for 5 Wards)
  • Ward Registrar (1 each for 5 Wards)

City Clerk: Kelli Barnaby, (603) 610-7245, email: cityclerk@cityofportsmouth.com

 

Rochester

General Election: November 7, 2023

Primary Election: No Primary Election

Filing Period: September 8 – September 25

Positions on the Ballots:

  • Mayor
  • City Council (2 for each of 6 Wards)
  • School Board At – Large (1)
  • School Board (2 each for 6 Wards)
  • Police Commissioner (1 for Wards 1 and 2, 1 for Wards 3 and 4, and 1 for Wards 5 and 6)
  • Moderator (1 for each of 6 Wards)
  • Ward Clerk (1 for each of 6 Wards)
  • Supervisor of the Checklist (1 for each of 6 Wards)
  • Selectman (1 for each of 6 Wards)

City Clerk: (603) 332-2130, email: cityclerk@rochesternh.gov

Deputy City Clerk: Cassie Givara, cassie.givara@rochesternh.gov

 

Somersworth

General Election: November 7, 2023

Primary Election: No Primary Election

Filing Period: September 13 – September 28

Positions on the Ballots:

  • Mayor
  • City Council (1 each for 5 Wards)
  • City Council At-Large (4)
  • School Board (1 for each of 5 Wards)
  • School Board At-Large (4)
  • Moderator (1 for each of 5 Wards)
  • Ward Clerk (1 for each of 5 Wards)
  • Selectmen (3 for each of 5 Wards)

City Clerk: Kristen LaPanne, (603) 692-9511, email: klapanne@somersworthnh.gov

 

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