New Hampshire Electoral Votes
New Hampshire occupies an important place in US 4 an electoral vote New Hampshire has 4 electoral votes, which is not a significant amount compared to California or Texas but are some of the most sought after for any presidential candidate as New Hampshire is a swing state. New Hampshire has emerged in recent presidential years as a swing state that favors neither Democrats nor Republicans. And presidential candidates covet its votes.
Electoral College
US Electoral College Because of representation of each state in congress each state has an elector for every senator (2 per state) and representative (state population) the ratio of electors to voters is not uniform. That amounts to 4 electoral votes for New Hampshire: 2 for its Senators and 2 for its Representatives in the House. A majority of the 538 electoral votes is needed to win the presidency so the magic number is 270. In an election, 4 may not sound like many but they will definitely count during a tight election.
Why New Hampshire is a Swing State
The New Hampshire electorate is an independent bunch and a robust percentage of simply registered voters identify as “uneclared” or independent. The independence also make it hard to predict election outcomes. Historically New Hampshire has been a Republican state, but in decades past, it has been more of a battleground state where both parties have won state-wide elections. Barack Obama won New Hampshire in 2008 and 2012, but Donald Trump lost to Hillary Clinton there in 2016. New Hampshire, 4 electoral votes: 2020 Joe Biden/competitive 2016: Clinton vs Sanders
Presidential candidates and their campaigns pay a great deal of attention to the state, given its swing-state nature. Spending big, holding rallies and adjusting their messaging according to New Hampshire’s varied political persuasions, The reason it carries such weight is that New Hampshire serves as a so-called “microcosm” of national trends, and is said to reflect how the rest of the nation may vote.
How New Hampshire’s First in the Nation Primary Affects Things
The primary in New Hampshire also establishes the tone for the national election. Because its the first primary in the nation it has voting power and public perceptions of the candidates, particularly where the races are crowded or competitive. New Hampshire can make a candidate visible and fundable nationally, and it can also take away support and momentum. While the primary and general election are two different animals, a candidate’s performance in the New Hampshire primary says a lot about how they will do in a larger arena.
New Hampshire and the Future of Its Electoral Clout
Though New Hampshire will not see significant growth in its population (and thus electoral votes), the state remains relevant as a swing state, and as a testing ground for primary elections. Given how close national elections have been (and will be) New Hampshire could provide the key margin of victory with its 4 electoral votes. Independents are the new royal family of voters, so both parties will keep New Hampshire in the headlines. So even though New Hampshire only has 4 electoral votes, the are worth a lot more in the contest for the White House, thanks to the state typically being a swing state, its respectable independent voter base and being a national political bellwether. Candidates will still want to win over New Hampshire voters and the state will still be a bellwether,
