Tuesday, Feb. 9 is more than a day off from school. The LHS gymnasium will be filled with residents casting their vote in the first in the nation presidential primary. Before those students and staff who can vote step behind the curtain, here is all you need to know about the election.

Who is eligible to vote?

Any town resident eighteen years and older is eligible to vote.

How do I register

to vote?

Only registered citizens are allowed to vote. New Hampshire has a Closed Primary which means that you must register as one party, Democrat or Republican,  or the other to be allowed to vote in the primary. Independent or Undeclared citizens are not allowed to vote in the Primary. However, you can pick your party affiliation the day of the election to be allowed to participate. You cannot change your party affiliation from Democrat to Republican or vice versa on Election Day, so if you are registered with one party or the other, you must take that ballot on Tuesday.

If you have not registered before hand at the Town Clerk’s office, you can register on Election Day. Bring proof of U.S citizenship (birth certificate, passport, naturalization papers) and proof of Londonderry residency (Driver’s License with imprinted Londonderry address, Photo ID and document with Londonderry address) to the polls.

What is an Absentee Ballot?

If you are out of the state or unable to make it to the polls due to a disability, work commitment, or a religious reason on Election Day you can request an Absentee Ballot. You will still need to register as a Democrat or Republican to vote in the primary, but you can switch back to Undeclared after the election. Follow this link to the Londonderry’s Absentee Ballot form http://londonderrynh.org/Pages/LondonderryNH_Clerk/clerk/forms

Who is running for the Republican Nomination?

There is a broad field of candidates running from the Republican Party. Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who won the Iowa Caucus, Mr. Donald Trump, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, Mrs. Carly Fiorina, Dr. Ben Carson,New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and, Ohio Governor John Kasich. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and Kentucky Senator Rand Paul have recently dropped out of the race.

Who is running for the Democrat Nomination?

Where the Republican field is vast, the Democratic field is sparse. Only two candidates are running: former Secretary of State Mrs. Clinton, who won the Iowa Caucus, and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley has recently dropped out of the race..

Can I get more involved with the election?

You can volunteer to be a ballot clerk on Tuesday. If this is something you are interested in contact Town Moderator Cindi Rice Conley at [email protected].

You can also get involved if you cannot vote yet. Mr. Vaughn’s AP Government and Politics Class is holding a mock primary on Monday, Feb. 8 for all those students who can’t vote in the real election. Stop by during all lunch periods to cast your vote.