Voters in New Hampshire are gearing up for the highly anticipated first-in-the-nation primaries. While the spotlight is on former President Donald Trump and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, who are campaigning head-to-head, other GOP candidates, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, will still be on the ballot. But what exactly do you need to know about the New Hampshire primary? Let’s dive in.
When do polls open and close on Tuesday?
According to state law, all polls must open no later than 11 a.m. ET and close no earlier than 7 p.m. ET. However, different localities have the flexibility to adjust these timings. In many areas across the state, polls are open from 7 a.m. ET to 7 p.m. ET. But there’s one tiny town, Dixville Notch, where the excitement starts early. Residents of Dixville Notch will cast their ballots starting at 12 a.m. ET. All six registered voters are expected to be at the polls right at midnight!
Why isn’t President Joe Biden on the Democratic ballot?
On the Democratic side, Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota, author Marianne Williamson, and 19 others will appear on the ballot. However, President Joe Biden will not be one of them. New Hampshire’s noncompliance with the Democratic National Committee’s primary order rules, which required the state to push back its primary date, means that the primary won’t be recognized by the Democratic National Committee. Therefore, Biden’s name won’t appear on the ballot. Nevertheless, some Biden supporters have organized a write-in campaign, urging voters to write the president’s name on the ballot.
Why are New Hampshire’s primaries so early?
New Hampshire’s primary happens early due to state law requirements. The secretary of state has to pick a date for the presidential primary that is at least a week ahead of any “similar election.” In this case, it means one week after Iowa’s caucuses and 11 days before South Carolina’s Democratic presidential primary.
Who can vote?
Registered Republicans and “undeclared” voters have the ability to vote in the New Hampshire presidential primary. If you are registered with a party, you must vote in that party’s primary. Undeclared voters, on the other hand, can choose either a Democratic or Republican ballot at their polling place. It’s important to note that after choosing a party’s ballot, voters become registered members of that party unless they specifically fill out a form to return to “undeclared” status.
Are there a lot of ‘undeclared’ voters?
Absolutely! In fact, undeclared voters outnumber both registered Democrats and registered Republicans. The latest registration numbers show that 39% of voters are undeclared, 31% are registered Republicans, and 30% are registered Democrats.
What about early voting?
Unlike some states, New Hampshire does not allow in-person early voting or no-excuse absentee voting. So voters will need to head to their polling place on the primary day to cast their ballot.
How do the delegates break down?
For the Republican primary, there will be 22 bound GOP delegates awarded proportionally based on statewide results. Candidates must earn at least 10% of the vote to qualify for delegates. On the other hand, due to New Hampshire’s noncompliance with the Democratic National Committee’s proposed primary calendar, no delegates will be awarded based on the results of this primary. New Hampshire will have a reduced number of delegates at the national convention.
To stay updated on the latest news and analysis of the New Hampshire primary, visit F5mag.com.
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