Art and Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. Postcard. “To a suffragette
valentine.” The New York Public Library Digital Collections.
I enjoy anniversary celebrations as much as everyone else. Make a champagne toast, toss the confetti, ring the bells, cast a vote. New Hampshiremen and New Hampshirewomen never seem to need an excuse to party. But I like to know exactly what I am jubilating, don’t you? In order to celebrate our presidential primary, we have to investigate New Hampshire history.
The First Primary Election
1909 was the first important year for New Hampshire when the republican majority called for the passage of an act creating a direct primary election system. In 1910 New Hampshire held a primary election in September for state-wide positions of governor, congressmen, councilors, senators, and county officers. This was followed by a general election in November of the same year. By one newspaper account, New Hampshire was the first eastern state to convert to a primary election process. Continue reading
