CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Both House and Senate lawmakers want to change the timing of New Hampshire’s state primary, but they disagree on the ideal date.
Though it is known for hosting the nation’s earliest presidential primary every four years, the state primary — the second Tuesday in September every two years — is among the latest.
“This does not allow the prevailing candidate, especially in statewide federal races, to be able to switch gears from a contested primary race, gain the full support of the members of his or her own party, raise the necessary financial support, present themselves to New Hampshire voters and win their support,” said Sen. Regina Birdsell, R-Hampstead.
The Senate on Thursday passed a bill rescheduling the state primary to the second Tuesday in August, starting in 2024. It now goes back to the House, which had voted to move the primary to the fourth Tuesday in June, starting next year.
Sen. Donna Soucy, D-Manchester, said senators heard from town officials who said holding the primary in June would be difficult in communities that also collect property taxes that month. And while others objected to holding elections in the summer when many voters take vacations, she said she wasn’t worried that turnout would suffer.
“We should not be concerned about the participation in our electoral process. We know that New Hampshire voters are very active and continue to participate,” she said.