Presidential election primaries and caucuses are two different methods that political parties use to let party members (voters) select the presidential nominee. How do primaries work and why is New Hampshire the first?
What Is A Primary?
A nominating primary election allows voters to select candidates for a subsequent election. "Primaries" are common in the United States and are conducted by the government on behalf of the Democratic and Republican political parties. Voters can vote in only one primary; they must declare a party affiliation. However, there are no monetary dues to pay to join and the voter can switch parties in the next primary if she so desires.Minor parties in the United States select nominees in a less formalized and public manner.
Who Participates? And How?
Any registered voter can participate in the New Hampshire primary, but she can vote in only one primary race, either the Republican or Democratic race.Polls are open from 7 am to 8 pm. However, communities with fewer than 100 voters can close polls early. Voters in two small New Hampshire villages, Dixville Notch and Hart's Location, routinely cast the first votes in the primary, just after midnight.
How Do Democrats Select Delegates?
There are 30 delegates at stake in this open, proportional primary. Voters elect district-level delegates; delegates are allocated to any candidate who receives at least 15 percent of the primary vote in a district.
New Hampshire Democratic Party
New Hampshire Democratic Party
How Do Republicans Select Delegates?
There are 12 delegates at stake in this open, proportional primary. Voters elect delegates to the national GOP convention; delegates are allocated proportionally.
New Hampshire Republican Committee
New Hampshire Republican Committee
How Did This System Develop?
New Hampshire held its first primary on the second Tuesday of March in 1916. The primary was an artifact of the progressive movement, which wrenched power away from party leaders. New Hampshire has been "first in the nation" since 1920.The 1952 election was historic for both parties. Friends placed Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower on the Republican ballot. The popular general defeated Ohio Sen. Robert A. Taft, even though Eisenhower did not visit NH during the primary campaign. On the Democratic side, Sen. Estes Kefauver (TN) defeated incumbent President Harry S. Truman, 55%-44%.
A 1975 state law requires the date be set one week before any other similar contest; Iowa precedes New Hampshire because it is a caucus, not a primary.
Who Are The Granite State Voters?
Independent voters (56,897) in New Hampshire out-number Democrats (216,005) and Republicans (253,736). About 500,000 are expected to go to the pollsPast Winners
Democrats
- 2004 - John Kerry
- 2000 - Al Gore
- 1992 - Paul E. Tsongas (did not receive nomination)
- 1988 - Michael S. Dukakis
- 1984 - Gary Hart (did not receive nomination)
- 1976 - Jimmy Carter
- 1972 - Edmund S. Muskie (did not receive nomination)
- 2000 - John McCain (did not receive nomination)
- 1996 - Patrick J. Buchanan (did not receive nomination)
- 1988 - George Bush
- 1980 - Ronald Reagan
- 1976 - Gerald Ford
State Information
How Did New Hampshire Vote In Past Elections?
- 2004 : Bush (R) 48.87% ; Kerry (D) 50.24%
- 2000 : Bush (R) 48.07% ; Gore (D) 46.80% ; Nader (I) 3.90%
- 1996 : Clinton (D) 49.32% ; Dole (R) 39.37% ; Perot (I) 9.69%
- 1992 : Bush (R) 37.69% ; Clinton (D) 38.91% ; Perot (I) 22.59%
- 1988 : Bush (R) 62.49% ; Dukakis (D) 36.33%
- 1984 : Mondale (D) 30.95% ; Reagan (R) 68.66%
- 1980 : Carter (D) 28.35% ; Reagan (R) 57.74% ; Anderson (I) 12.94%
- 1976 : Carter (D) 43.47% ; Ford (R) 54.75%
