From healthcare, to the economy, to criminal justice and more, mental health touches many of the issues that you might care about the most. Whenever you cast your ballot, you #Vote4MentalHealth, whether you realize it or not.
Every elected official – from the president and Congress, to state legislators, to county commissioners, city councilmembers, and town selectmen – has influence on issues impacting people affected by mental health conditions. For our governments to reflect the views of their communities, everyone must take part. This is especially true in local elections, where the loss of an individual’s voice is even further magnified. Take action: to support mental health in the Granite State, we need all hands on deck.
Make sure your voice is heard at the polls – Your vote for mental health matters.
When you take the pledge to #Vote4MentalHealth, you commit to understanding how your vote impacts people with mental health conditions and how you can act. When you pledge, we’ll send you information on how to vote in your state and steps you can take to understand where candidates stand on issues you care about.
Click here to Take the Pledge to #Vote4MentalHealth in 2026! You will receive additional ways you can #Vote4MentalHealth and advocate with NAMI National.
On May 30, the NAMI National Board of Directors approved a new public policy position on “Social Determinants of Health: Voting.” This latest position recognizes voting as a key way that people impacted by mental health conditions can shape the systems, services, and supports that affect their communities, health, and well-being. Click here to learn more about this policy position.
New Hampshire state primaries will be held on September 8, 2026.
The New Hampshire general election will be held on November 3, 2026.
You may register to vote in person at your municipal clerk’s office, in person at a supervisors of the checklist meeting, or in person at the polling location on election day. If you qualify, you may also register to vote absentee or to use the accessible electronic absentee voter registration.
You can register to vote in local, state, and federal elections in New Hampshire if you are:
- A United States citizen;
- At least 18 years old on election day;
- A resident in the town/city ward you seek to register in. There is no minimum period you are required to have lived in your community before registering.
To register to vote, you will be required to complete a Voter Registration Form provided by your local town/city clerk or supervisor of the checklist. You will also need to provide proof of your identity, age, U.S. citizenship (by either documents or a sworn affidavit), and domicile (primary residence address).
Visit the NH Secretary of State website to check your information on the voter information database and find more information on how to register to vote, required documentation, frequently asked questions, and additional resources.
Click here to find your polling place and view a sample ballot.
Understanding how different policymakers impact mental health and suicide prevention policies – and what you can do to educate them – is critical. Read on to learn ways to engage and educate candidates and how different policymakers influence what you see in your community.
- Learn about all candidates. Seek out all the candidates, not just the ones you think you support. This will help you understand where they all stand on a wide variety of issues. It’s also a good way to educate all candidates, regardless of who you vote for, about mental health. In addition, if a candidate is running for re-election, research their previous actions on topics that are important to you.
Many candidates have a website or social media page where they discuss their positions and promote opportunities to meet and talk with them. For candidates for re-election, you can learn about their previous work by researching them on the state’s General Court Website. - Share your story. If you are comfortable, sharing how your personal experience with mental illness has affected you or a loved one makes issues real to candidates. Your story builds a personal connection with candidates, helps them remember you and keeps mental health front and center.
- Ask questions. Talk to candidates with an open mind and a general curiosity about their positions to learn about what solutions they propose. Listen carefully to their answers and acknowledge the points that they make. They may ask for your ideas, so be ready to share your thoughts.
- Follow-up after the election. Once a candidate is elected, being an engaged and active advocate helps build momentum on your issue. Share your knowledge and experience with the policymaker and offer to be a resource.
- Learn about all candidates. Seek out all the candidates, not just the ones you think you support. This will help you understand where they all stand on a wide variety of issues. It’s also a good way to educate all candidates, regardless of who you vote for, about mental health. In addition, if a candidate is running for re-election, research their previous actions on topics that are important to you.
