We have a secret ballot in the United States. But wouldn’t it be fun to know how your
ancestors voted? In today’s post I’m just rambling on about history, nothing in
particular about genealogy today…
 |
| We're all experts up here in New Hampshire |
We removed to New Hampshire from Massachusetts in 1984. It was apparent to me right from the
beginning that it was a very political state.
New Hampshire’s General Court is one of the biggest political bodies in
the free world, with 400 members. Each
legislator represents about 3,300 residents.
If this were the case in California, their house would have over 11,000 legislators. If this were the case for the United States
House of Representatives, there would be almost 100,000 representatives. New Hampshire holds elections every two years
for senators, legislators, and the governor.
New Hampshire, like the other New England states, still holds town
meetings every year. Most people are
talking politics all the time, or campaigning for local or statewide positions.
New Hampshire has only three delegates selected in the
primary, due to its small population, but the first primary gives it enormous
media coverage, as well as a tradition of being a proving ground for
candidates. The world descends on the
tiny town of Dixville Notch, where the two dozen or so voters file ballots
right after the stroke of midnight in the Ballot Room of the Balsams
Hotel. The media frenzy to report the
first election results is almost comical.
Until 1992 the candidate who won New Hampshire won the federal election
(in 1922 Bill Clinton lost to candidate Paul Tsongas).
 |
| The Ballot Room at The Balsams Resort, Dixville Notch, NH |
At this luncheon Mr. Gardner gave an interesting history of
New Hampshire’s “First in the Nation” status, which I will attempt to summarize
here. When the states ratified the
constitution, New Hampshire was the seventh state to sign, thus the 2/3
majority passed it as law. Since then
New Hampshire was given special status to vote first. The idea for the first political party
convention was proposed in Concord, New Hampshire in1832. When the convention was held in Baltimore In
July 1832, the newspapers credited New Hampshire with the idea.
New Hampshire has held a political party primary for the
president elect since 1916. You can see
memorabilia, news clippings pamphlets and political pins from all the primary
elections at the New Hampshire Historical Society Museum and in the display
cases of the Balsam’s Ballot room. Several more populous states have attempted to
wrestle the “First in the Nation” status from New Hampshire, but New Hampshire
has stood its ground, usually by moving the date up from March town meeting to
keep the election first. The earliest New Hampshire primary was moved all the way up to January 8th in 2008.
....and, just in time for the New Hampshire primary, Ancestry.com has come out with its usual presidential genealogy connections between candidates. See this link:
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/ANCESTRYCOM-Reveals-Mitt-Romneys-Presidential-Genes-2012-GOP-Hopeful-Is-Related-Six-NASDAQ-ACOM-1600492.htm
 |
| Yours Truly perusing the memorabilia at the Balsams Ballot Room |
------------
Links for those who are truly curious about the “First in
the Nation” Presidential Primary:
The official
state of New Hampshire webpage on the First-in-the-Nation Primary election
The
Secretary of the State of New Hampshire website for the 2012 Presidential
Primary (where you go to fill out the paperwork if you want to be on the
ballot, see a sample ballot, etc.)
The Balsams Hotel Ballot Room history webpage http://thebalsams.com/history
Live Free or Die Alliance http://www.livefreeordiealliance.org
a non-partisan, non-profit providing objective information about issues and candidates
to New Hampshire citizens
A “Why NH?”
sort of article from seacoastonline.com
http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20111222-NEWS-111229914
Occupy Dixville Notch Primary at Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/events/277870278929224/
Occupy Dixville Notch Primary at Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/events/277870278929224/
---------------------
Copyright 2012, Heather Wilkinson Rojo
Very intersting info, Heather-- most of it I didn't know till now.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and yours!