First-In-The-Nation Presidential Primary

By Hugh Gregg
Hugh, Gregg. "New Hampshire’s First-In-The-Nation Presidential Primary", State of New Hampshire Manual for the General Court, (Department of State) No.55, 1997.

Recognized Political Parties

      Presidential primary ballots are prepared exclusively for designated political parties and all candidates listed on them must be members of those parties. For a "political organizations" to qualify as a recognized political party, and to participate in a presidential primary, it must first have received at least 3% of the total number of votes cast for the Office of Governor at the preceding state general election.
      In the presidential primaries from 1952 through 1988 only the Republican and Democratic parties qualified. The Libertarian Party also became eligible for a place on the ballot in 1992 and 1996.