The New Hampshire House Election Law Committee took testimony on January 24 on HB 48, a bill to change the definition of “party” from one that got 4% for Governor or US Senator, to one that got 2% for either of those offices.

Approximately twelve people testified in favor, and no one formally opposed the bill. An assistant to the Secretary of State had some concerns about details, but did not hold himself out as opposed to the bill. The Committee won’t vote on the bill until early February.

New Hampshire is the only New England state in which no party, other than the Democratic and Republican Parties, has been qualified during the past six years. If the bill passed, there would still be no new qualified parties in New Hampshire until after the 2008 election at the earliest. New Hampshire elects its Governor every two years, and also has a U.S. Senate election in 2008.