Relating to the New Hampshire presidential primary. Providing that the New Hampshire presidential primary shall be the first presidential primary of a presidential election cycle.
Impact
If enacted, CACR22 would explicitly enshrine the order of the New Hampshire presidential primary in the state constitution. Currently, while New Hampshire’s primary has long been recognized as the first in the nation, there is no formal constitutional stipulation that guarantees its primacy. Thus, this amendment aims to prevent any future changes in the scheduling of presidential primaries that might attempt to undermine New Hampshire's traditional role, thereby promoting the state's electoral significance.
Summary
CACR22 proposes a constitutional amendment to ensure that the New Hampshire presidential primary is recognized as the first presidential primary of each election cycle. This change aims to solidify New Hampshire's status as a central player in the primary election process, which has traditionally allowed it to maintain significant influence over the presidential candidate selection in the United States. The proposed amendments would specify that the New Hampshire primary occurs at least one week before any similar nominating contests, according to the revised Article 101 of the state constitution.
Sentiment
The sentiment surrounding CACR22 appears to be largely supportive among those who view retaining the early primary as essential for New Hampshire's political clout. Advocates argue that keeping the primary first allows for more direct engagement between voters and candidates and encourages more candidates to campaign actively in the state. Conversely, some dissenters within and outside New Hampshire may see the amendment as an unnecessary entrenchment of a system that might benefit from reform or broader representation within the primary schedule.
Contention
Notable points of contention include concerns from those who may believe that the current primary system disproportionately favors larger or more populous states and that changing the primary order could allow for more equitable participation across the country. Some voices have called for a revamping of the primary process to ensure that smaller states, like New Hampshire, do not monopolize the early voting process. Additionally, any changes could impact national party strategies significantly, factoring into their resource allocation and candidate appearances.
directing the state treasurer to withhold payments owed by the state to the federal government where the state has been deprived of federal aid as a result of presidential executive order.
Supporting the Electoral College, denouncing the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, and inviting interested states to form the Electoral College Interstate Compact.
A concurrent resolution to support the electoral college, denounce the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, and invite interested states to form the Electoral College Interstate Compact.