"In 1977, to eliminate any possible future encroachment on the state's tradition of being first, the Legislature further amended the law setting the election date to read, "On the second Tuesday of March, immediately preceding the date on which any other state shall hold -a similar election, whichever is earlier..... By taking this action the traditional town meeting date and the presidential primary date were once again identical as they had been in 1916"
http://www.politicallibrary.org/NEW_HAMPSIRE_FIR%20(F)/build/index.htm
This should get interesting. NH's law has them always first.
ping