What to know about New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary

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New Hampshire, which has conducted the first presidential primary for more than 100 years, is clinging to its spot on the 2024 election calendar.

Why is New Hampshire’s primary first?

New Hampshire’s state government jealously guards its status as the first-in-the-nation primary. Iowa traditionally conducts its contest earlier than New Hampshire, but that is a caucus, a meeting at a specific time, rather than a primary with secret ballot voting.

New Hampshire state law, passed in 1975, requires that its primary be conducted before any other state’s.

The state is not representative of the country as a whole. It has fewer than 1.5 million residents and is overwhelmingly White. But voters in New Hampshire take their role as the first primary state seriously, and it is an interesting feature of the American system that anyone who wants to be president will have to get his or her message across to everyday people in New Hampshire living rooms and make appearances in the state’s diners.

While its state government is controlled by Republicans, New Hampshire is frequently listed as a battleground state in general elections. But starting in 2004,it has voted for the Democrat in every presidential election.

Who can vote in New Hampshire’s primary?

Registered Republicans and Democrats vote in their own primaries, but it’s important to note that in New Hampshire, independent voters can also take part by asking for either a Republican or Democratic ballot.

Who is ahead in New Hampshire?

Trump is the clear front-runner and holds 50% support among likely Republican primary voters in the Granite