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| Elections in New Hampshire | |
|---|---|
| Name | Elections in New Hampshire |
| Jurisdiction | New Hampshire |
| Type | Elections |
| Voting system | First-past-the-post, Proportional representation (limited) |
| First election | 1788 |
Elections in New Hampshire are the processes by which residents of New Hampshire choose public officials at the United States federal, state, and local levels. The state is notable for its early primary calendar and has been influential in presidential primary politics, attracting candidates from parties such as the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. Administration involves state institutions like the New Hampshire Secretary of State and interacts with federal structures such as the Federal Election Commission.
New Hampshire conducts elections for offices including the President of the United States, United States Senate, United States House of Representatives, Governor, and the state legislature. The state's political landscape has featured figures such as John McCain, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, and Bernie Sanders in public contests. Electoral outcomes are recorded and certified by the New Hampshire Secretary of State and occasionally litigated in venues like the New Hampshire Supreme Court or the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire.
Administration is overseen by the New Hampshire Secretary of State and implemented locally by town clerk offices in municipalities like Concord, Manchester, and Nashua. The state primarily uses First-past-the-post plurality voting for single-member districts such as those for the United States House of Representatives and the New Hampshire Senate. Ballot design, absentee procedures, and recount rules reference statutes enacted by the New Hampshire General Court and are audited under standards influenced by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 and guidance from the Election Assistance Commission.
Eligibility is governed by the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated and requires citizenship of the United States, residence in New Hampshire, and age meeting United States Constitution requirements for federal offices. Registration processes are handled by local town clerk and city clerk offices and may interact with federal records such as the Social Security Administration data for verification. Issues like absentee voting, same-day registration, and provisional ballots have prompted involvement from organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union and litigants in cases before the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
New Hampshire holds regular biennial elections for the United States House of Representatives and the New Hampshire General Court, quadrennial elections for the Governor, and staggered terms for the United States Senate. The state is globally known for its first-in-the-nation New Hampshire presidential primary which precedes events like the Iowa caucuses and influences calendars set by the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee. Local elections in Manchester, Dover, and Keene follow municipal charters enacted by the New Hampshire Municipal Association.
Major parties active in the state include the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, and smaller organizations such as the Libertarian Party and the Green Party. New Hampshire's primary system features both primaries and, historically, events akin to caucus processes; party rules set by the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee shape candidate recognition for figures like Joe Biden and Donald Trump. The state has also been the site of notable primary performances by candidates such as Howard Dean, John Edwards, Ron Paul, and Elizabeth Warren.
New Hampshire has swung between parties in presidential, congressional, and gubernatorial contests, producing notable races such as the 2000 Senate contest involving John E. Sununu and 2006 contests affecting legislators like Jeanne Shaheen and Judd Gregg. The state's prominence in the presidential nomination process elevated campaigns by Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Al Gore, and Michael Dukakis. Historical developments include shifts during the New Deal era affecting alignment with national actors like Franklin D. Roosevelt and post-1990s trends reflecting strategies used by figures such as Karl Rove and James Carville.
Campaign finance in New Hampshire is regulated under state statutes enforced by the New Hampshire Attorney General and reported to the New Hampshire Secretary of State, with federal races subject to oversight by the Federal Election Commission. Contributions from political action committees like Citizens United-era entities and super PACs have influenced competitive contests, raising concerns voiced by groups such as Common Cause and the Campaign Legal Center. Voting laws on topics like absentee ballots, ballot security, recounts, and voter identification intersect with federal law including precedents from the United States Supreme Court and litigation that has involved organizations like the League of Women Voters.
Category:New Hampshire elections