Brush Up: Primary Election Just 2 Weeks Away

There are several contested races on the Merrimack ballot for the Sept. 11 primary.

Republican voters will be asked to decide primary contests for governor, Congress, state Senate, state representative, county commissioner, county sheriff, register of deeds and state convention delegates. On the Democratic side of the ballot, contested races include governor and county attorney. Here's a quick rundown of the contested primary races.

[PDFs of the Republican and Democratic ballots are attached to the right of this story.]

Contested Republican races:

• , and  are all vying for the Republican nomination for governor.
• Senate President Peter Bragdon, R-Milford, faces competition from Merrimack resident Daniel Dwyer in a newly-created Sente District that includes Merrimack, Amherst, Milford and Wilton.
• Republican Congressman Frank Guinta is being challenged by  and Vern Clough.
• Ten Republicans are running for Merrimack's eight state representative seats, including Richard Barry, Tracy Allen Coyer, Dick Hinch, Jeanine Notter, Daniel Oberlander, Tony Pellegrino, , , and .
• For Hillsborough County Commissioner, Merrimack resident is challenging Amherst incumbent for the Republican nomination for District 3.
• A register of deeds race will be between Pamela D. Coughlin and Mary Ann Crowell.
• Frank W. Szabo is challenging incumbent James A. Hardy for county sheriff.
• And nine names are on the ticket for eight people to visit the State Convention. Residents will choose eight of the following delegate candidates: Ryan M. Anderson, Tracy L. Anderson, Richard Barry, Andrew Bray, Christopher Buda, Juanita Dangel, Michael Dangel, Nancy Elliott and Maureen Mooney.

Contested Democratic races:

• , Jackie Cilley and  are all seeking the Democratic nomination for governor.
• Patricia M. Lafrance and Robert M. Walsh will square off for the Democratic nod for county attorney.

Not to be missed

There are some about voting in this election, including a polling location change and changes to voter ID laws.

Not going to be in town on Election Day? Here are guidelines from the town website for absentee ballot voting:

New Hampshire law requires that you vote in person at the polling place for your town or ward unless you:

1. Plan to be absent on the day of the election from the city, town, or unincorporated place in whicy you are registered to vote.
2. Cannot appear in public on election day because of observance of a religious commitment.
3. Are unable to vote in person due to a disability.
4. Cannot appear at any time during polling hours at your polling place because an employment obligation requires you to remain physically at work or to be in transit to or from work from the time the polls open until after the time the polls close.

Absentee ballots can be requested up until 5 p.m. the day before the election.  Ballots can be requested in person, through the mail, or by fax.  Please allow sufficient mailing time if requesting through the mail or fax.  Ballots must be returned either in person by the voter or through the mail.  Ballots returned in person must be delivered by 5:00 PM the day before the election.  Ballots can be accepted in the mail until 5:00 PM on election day.   Requests for absentee ballot should be mailed to: Town Clerk, Attn: Absentee Ballots, 6 Baboosic Lake Rd, Merrimack, NH 03054

For more information regarding elections and voting, please visit the NH Secretary of State's website at: http://sos.nh.gov/Elections.aspx

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 11 in the All Purpose Room at James Mastricola Upper Elementary School only, 26 Baboosic Lake Road, for the State Primary Election.