Opens in a new tab

Election Central

2026 Dover, NH Voter Guide

Learn more about the candidates on the Dover, NH ballot for the September state primary and November general election. Municipal offices, such as City Council and School Board, are not up for election this year.

Closeup of the American Flag.

Party

N.H. State Representative

What This Role Does

Represents your specific neighborhood ward in the massive, 400-member New Hampshire House (the largest state house in the country). Because they represent relatively small groups of residents, they focus heavily on hyper-local neighborhood issues while voting on all state-level legislation.

Why This Office Matters

State Representatives directly impact on your property tax bill. Their votes on the state budget and education funding formulas determine how much state aid Dover receives. When the state underfunds these areas, the financial burden shifts directly to your local property taxes.

  • Alice Wade

    State Representative

    {mb_vote_mb_cand_party:value}
    Visit Website
    Ward 1, Ward 2, Ward 3, Ward 5, Ward 6
  • Geoff Smith

    State Representative

    {mb_vote_mb_cand_party:value}
    Visit Website
    Ward 1, Ward 2, Ward 3, Ward 5, Ward 6
  • Seth Miller

    State Representative

    {mb_vote_mb_cand_party:value}
    Visit Website
    Ward 1, Ward 2, Ward 3, Ward 5, Ward 6

N.H. State Senate

What This Role Does

Represents Dover (District 4) in the smaller, 24-member upper chamber of the New Hampshire legislature. They debate, write, and vote on state-level laws, regulations, taxes, and how state tax dollars are allocated.

Why This Office Matters

With only 24 members in the State Senate, your Senator holds significant influence over statewide policies that directly affect your cost of living. Because each vote carries so much weight, they can single-handedly pass or block legislation regarding property tax relief, utility rates, and state funding for local infrastructure.

N.H. Executive Council

What This Role Does

A role completely unique to New Hampshire! This five-member board serves as a powerful "check and balance" on the Governor. They must approve all state and federal contracts over $10,000, oversee the spending for the state's 10-Year Highway Plan, and vote to confirm or deny the Governor's nominations for state commissioners and judges.

Why This Office Matters

The Executive Councilor directly impacts your wallet by approving or blocking major state contracts and funding for regional road and highway projects. They also shape the state's legal system by confirming or denying the judges who rule on New Hampshire laws and the commissioners who lead state agencies.

N.H. Governor

What This Role Does

The chief executive of New Hampshire. The Governor proposes the state budget, signs or vetoes state laws passed by the legislature, manages state agencies (like the Department of Transportation or Health and Human Services), and serves as the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard.

Why This Office Matters

The Governor sets the financial and social direction of the state by proposing the budget and choosing whether to sign or veto laws. Their decisions directly affect your day-to-day life, including your cost of living, state tax structures, and how much state support is provided to local communities.

U.S. Representative (Congress)

What This Role Does

Represents Dover’s specific region (Congressional District 1) in the U.S. House of Representatives. They focus on authoring federal legislation, managing federal spending bills, and helping secure federal grants and funding specifically for local New Hampshire infrastructure and community projects.

Why This Office Matters

Your U.S. Representative ensures Dover’s local economic and community needs are prioritized in massive federal spending and infrastructure bills. They also provide a direct lifeline to federal agencies, helping you navigate and resolve personal issues with the VA, Medicare, or Social Security.

U.S. Senate

What This Role Does

Represents the entire state of New Hampshire in Washington, D.C. Senators vote on federal laws, manage national budgets, shape foreign policy, and hold the exclusive power to confirm or reject Supreme Court justices, federal judges, and presidential cabinet members.

Why This Office Matters

Your U.S. Senator directly shapes nationwide laws, federal tax burdens, and civil liberties that apply to your daily life. Because they hold the exclusive power to confirm federal judges and Supreme Court justices, their votes permanently impact the legal rights and constitutional protections of every New Hampshire resident.

County Commissioner

What This Role Does

Think of them as the executive board or "City Council" for the whole county. They manage the multi-million dollar county budget, oversee the county jail (House of Corrections), and run the Riverside Rest Home right here in Dover.

Why This Office Matters

County Commissioners directly influence your property tax bill by setting and managing the county budget. Their decisions also determine the quality of care provided at Dover's Riverside Rest Home and the funding for the county jail, directly impacting regional public health and safety.

  • George Maglaras

    County Commissioner

    {mb_vote_mb_cand_party:value}
    Ward 1, Ward 2, Ward 3, Ward 4

County Attorney

What This Role Does

The chief law enforcement prosecutor for the county. While Dover police handle local traffic stops and misdemeanors, the County Attorney’s office prosecutes all major felony-level crimes committed anywhere in Strafford County.

Why This Office Matters

The County Attorney determines how major crimes are prosecuted in your community, directly influencing local public safety and justice. Their policies dictate whether the county prioritizes incarceration or rehabilitation programs, which shapes long-term crime rates and the use of your tax dollars in the legal system.

County Sheriff

What This Role Does

The head of county-wide law enforcement. Sheriff's deputies handle security at the Superior Court, transport prisoners, and serve official legal documents like subpoenas, evictions, and foreclosure notices.

Why This Office Matters

The Sheriff directly influences how local law enforcement resources are deployed and how transparently the county justice system operates. Their approach to managing court security, prisoner transport, and high-stakes legal actions like evictions and foreclosures directly affects civil liberties and community stability.

County Treasurer

What This Role Does

The county’s chief financial officer. They do not decide how county money is spent, but they manage the county’s bank accounts, handle investments, and sign the official checks to keep county services running.

Why This Office Matters

The County Treasurer protects your tax dollars by ensuring county funds are managed responsibly and invested safely. Their financial oversight prevents costly deficits or accounting errors that could otherwise trigger unexpected spikes in your property tax bill.

  • Pam Arnold

    County Treasurer

    {mb_vote_mb_cand_party:value}
    Citywide

Register of Deeds

What This Role Does

The official, permanent keeper of property records. Every time a house, piece of land, or commercial building is bought, sold, or mortgaged in Dover, the legal paperwork is officially recorded and filed by this office.

Why This Office Matters

The Register of Deeds protects your home or property investment by ensuring your legal ownership records are permanently secure and accurate. Their efficiency prevents title fraud, clear up boundary disputes, and ensures you can buy, sell, or refinance property in Dover without administrative delays.

Register of Probate

What This Role Does

Historically managed wills, adoptions, and estate disputes. While the state court system has modernized and taken over most of these day-to-day legal duties, the position remains a constitutionally required slot on the ballot.

Why This Office Matters

Because the state court system has taken over this role's original responsibilities, this office has virtually no direct impact on your daily life. It primarily exists as a constitutionally mandated position to maintain historical records and preserve the formal structure of county government.