What is the abbreviation for New Hampshire, and what region is it in?

New Hampshire's two-letter postal abbreviation is NH. The U.S. Census Bureau places it in the Northeast region, in the New England division, and about 1.38 million people lived there in the 2020 census.

When did New Hampshire become a state, and what number state was it?

New Hampshire became the 9th state on June 21, 1788. As the ninth state to ratify, it supplied the vote that met the Constitution's requirement of nine states, so the Constitution took effect among the ratifying states. Earlier, in January 1776, New Hampshire had become the first colony to adopt its own constitution.

Who was New Hampshire named after?

Captain John Mason, who received a land grant in the region in 1629, named it after his home county of Hampshire in England.

What is the capital of New Hampshire, and has it always been the capital?

Concord has been the capital since 1808; before that the legislature met in several towns, including Portsmouth and Exeter. The State House, completed in 1819, is the oldest state capitol in which a legislature still meets in its original chambers.

What states and countries border New Hampshire?

New Hampshire borders Maine to the east, Massachusetts to the south, and Vermont to the west across the Connecticut River. To the north it borders the Canadian province of Quebec, and it has about 18 miles of Atlantic coastline, the shortest of any ocean-bordering state.

Why does New Hampshire hold the first presidential primary?

New Hampshire has held the first presidential primary in the nation for more than a century, and a state law requires the secretary of state to set its primary at least seven days before any similar contest in another state. The tradition makes the small state a major early stop for presidential candidates.

What are New Hampshire's nickname, motto, and symbols?

New Hampshire is known as "The Granite State," for its granite quarries and rocky terrain. Its motto, "Live Free or Die," comes from a toast written by Revolutionary War general John Stark in 1809. Its state bird is the purple finch, its flower is the purple lilac, and its tree is the white birch.

How many representatives and electoral votes does New Hampshire have?

Based on the 2020 census, New Hampshire has 2 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, the same as before, which gives it 4 votes in the Electoral College.

How big is the New Hampshire House of Representatives?

The New Hampshire House has 400 members, by far the largest of any state legislative chamber in the country and one of the largest legislative bodies in the English-speaking world. Members are paid $100 a year.

U.S. State9th State • June 21, 1788

New Hampshire NH

"The Granite State"

The first colony to declare independence, the state that ratified the Constitution into existence, and the keeper of the nation's first presidential primary, New Hampshire punches far above its weight in American history and democracy.

State Debt - FY2024

$7.6 billion

Total state government debt outstanding at the close of fiscal 2024, including long-term bonds and short-term borrowing across state agencies and public universities.

Tax Revenue - FY2024

$3.5 billion

Total New Hampshire state tax collections in fiscal 2024. New Hampshire taxes neither wages nor general sales, so collections are led by the business profits and business enterprise taxes and the statewide property tax, with the interest and dividends tax ending after 2024.

Borrowing

New Hampshire issues general obligation bonds backed by its full faith and credit, sold to investors in the municipal bond market, along with turnpike and other revenue bonds. A statutory process caps how much new debt the legislature can authorize each session. The state reported about $298 million in interest on its debt in fiscal 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State Government Finances.

1.4M

Population

9th

State (1788)

Income Tax

6,288ft

Mt. Washington

New Hampshire's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Hello, Granite Staters. On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, you're choosing a governor, a U.S. senator for an open seat, your member of the U.S. House, your Executive Councilor, your state senator and state representatives, and county officers, plus one constitutional amendment.

This is a midterm election, halfway through the president's term, and nationally it decides who controls Congress for the next two years. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is retiring, and Rep. Chris Pappas is running for her seat, so District 1 is open too.

New Hampshire does things its own way: governors serve two-year terms, most voting happens in person at your town or ward polling place, and you can register right at the polls.

Key dates and how voting works are right below. Use the buttons above to open each race. Facts first; the decision is yours.

Checked against available sources on October 5, 2026

Key Dates

Key Dates
Last day to request an absentee ballot by mail (noon)	Monday, November 2
Last day to request and vote an absentee ballot in person at your clerk's office (5 p.m.)	Monday, November 2
Election Day: polling hours vary by town; absentee ballots must reach your clerk by 5 p.m.	Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in New Hampshire

Register with your town or city clerk ahead of time, or at your polling place on Election Day. New registrants must show documentary proof of U.S. citizenship, along with proof of age and where you live.

Bring a photo ID to vote. Most people vote in person at their town or ward polling place; hours vary by town, so check with your clerk.

Absentee voting is for specific reasons, such as being out of town on Election Day, a disability, a religious observance, work or caregiving that covers all polling hours, or a winter storm warning. Include a copy of your photo ID (or a notarized signature) with the request, and make sure your clerk receives the ballot by 5 p.m. on Election Day.

Your town or city clerk has your sample ballot and polling place.

Sources & Further Reading

…

New Hampshire's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

New Hampshire does things its own way: governors serve two-year terms, most voting happens in person at your town or ward polling place, and you can register right at the polls.

Key dates and how voting works are right below. Use the buttons above to open each race. Facts first; the decision is yours.

Checked against available sources on October 5, 2026

Last day to request an absentee ballot by mail (noon)

Monday, November 2

Last day to request and vote an absentee ballot in person at your clerk's office (5 p.m.)

Monday, November 2

Election Day: polling hours vary by town; absentee ballots must reach your clerk by 5 p.m.

Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in New Hampshire

Bring a photo ID to vote. Most people vote in person at their town or ward polling place; hours vary by town, so check with your clerk.

Your town or city clerk has your sample ballot and polling place.

New Hampshire's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in New Hampshire

📚 Sources & Further Reading

New Hampshire's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in New Hampshire

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading