The New Hampshire House Election Law Committee has asked one of its staffers to gather research on how many votes are required in each state, for a group to meet the definition of “political party.” The current New Hampshire definition of party is a group that polled 4% at the last election for either U.S. Senate or Governor. The median vote test for the 50 states is 2%, and this information is now in the hands of the committee. This information will probably help to pass HB 48, next year. HB 48 lowers the vote test from 4% to 2%. It is too late for the bill to make any headway in 2007.

New Hampshire is the only New England state that has not had any qualified parties (other than the Democratic and Republican Parties) during the last six years.