Secretary of State William M. Gardner, Attorney General Kelly A. Ayotte, and United States Attorney Thomas P. Colantuno announce that their Offices will hold a Press Conference:

Secretary of State Bill Gardner, Deputy Attorney General Bud Fitch, and Professor Andy Smith and representatives of Justiceworks from UNH will demonstrate and discuss NHVotes, a new online Web site, that is available to voters, advocates, and election officials. This Web site was developed with a grant awarded by the PEW Charitable Trust and the JEHT Foundation, as part of the PEW Make Voting Work project. It provides an on-line course for election officials. Election officials who successfully complete the course receive a certificate. Voters, advocates, and members of the public may also view the election official courses and/or take a course designed for voters. This makes an easy to use and interactive training tool about voting rights and procedures in New Hampshire available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. New voters and those with questions about their rights or procedures for registering or voting should use the Web site.

The NHVotes Web site can be viewed at: http://nhvotes.sos.nh.gov/login/index.php.

Secretary of State Gardner will discuss his turnout predictions for the election and describe how the Secretary of State's Office will support municipal election officials as they conduct the election.

United States Attorney Tom Colantuno will describe his Office's efforts to protect voting rights on election day.

Deputy Attorney General Bud Fitch and Assistant Attorney General Jim Kennedy will discuss the Attorney General's Office's plans to have Assistant Attorneys General, AG Investigators, and specially trained Deputy Sheriffs conducting polling place inspections throughout the State. Members of the Office will also respond to complaints when necessary.

The Attorney General's Office will also staff the Attorney General's Election Line, a toll free number that people who believe their voting rights are being violated, that they have evidence of voter fraud, voter intimidation, or voter suppression should call. That number is: 1-866-868-3703. Each polling place in the State should have a sign displaying this number posted prominently within the polling place.

Secretary of State Gardner and Attorney General Ayotte are issuing local election officials a detailed memorandum addressing important aspects of conducting this election. Copies of the memorandum will be provided at the press conference.

All voters are encouraged to plan to vote as early during election day as is convenient. Voters should check with their town/city Web site, clerk's office, or other officials to determine the hours during which their polls will be open for voting.

Most polling places are open from 8:00 AM until 7:00 PM.

A few polling places will open as early as 6:00 AM, and in a very few small towns the polling place does not open until 11:00 AM.

A few polling places will remain open until 8:00 PM. Any voter planning to vote after 7:00 PM should make certain that their town/city ward is one of the few that remain open until 8:00 PM.

The expected large turnout may result in lines later in the day at some polling places. Any qualified voter who arrives at the polling place by the scheduled close of voting for that polling place will be allowed to vote.

People who are qualified as voters and who plan to vote on Tuesday November 4, 2008, but have not yet registered to vote should:

Go to the polling place in the town or city ward where the person is domiciled, that is the one place where they sleep most nights of the year.

Bring proof of the person's qualifications as a voter including:

• Proof of Identity – A photo driver's license or other government issued photo identification will make registering faster and easier.
• Proof of Age – A state issued driver's license, birth certificate, passport, or other government issued form are typical forms of proof of age.
• Proof of Citizenship – A birth certificate, passport, or naturalization papers. If the person does not have these documents with him or her it will be necessary to complete a citizenship affidavit, which will take additional time.
• Proof of Domicile – This is proof that you live at the address you are claiming as your voting address. A New Hampshire photo driver's license or vehicle registration listing that address is presumptive proof. You may also prove domicile with other government issued documents or documents issued by a bank showing your address. If the person has no such documents with him or her, it will be necessary to complete a domicile affidavit, which will take additional time.

Plan to arrive at the polling place as early as possible on election day. An exceptionally large turnout is expected. It is likely that in some communities lines may form and people may need to wait to register to vote.