Manchester – Saturday is a better day than Tuesday to hold New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation presidential primary, according to an informal UnionLeader.com survey.

About 56 percent of the 194 Granite Staters who responded to the survey preferred holding the primary on a Saturday. About 22 percent said Tuesday was preferable, while another 22 percent said it didn't matter. Those responding to the survey said a Saturday primary would boost turnout and generally prove more convenient.

"People often complain about low voter turnout, so why not?" wrote Manchester resident William Smith, a likely voter in the state's GOP contest. "Also, it's difficult for a lot of people to get out of work and go vote, which means there's larger numbers of people at the polls before and after work. Why not (have the primary) on a day where fewer people work and can vote at any point during the day?"

The question of whether to hold New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary on a day other than Tuesday comes as other states jockey for position behind Iowa and New Hampshire, which traditionally lead off the major parties' nominating process.

Last week, the chairman of South Carolina's Republican Party said he would hold his party's primary on Saturday, Jan. 19, a move taken after Florida moved up its own primaries to Jan. 29.

Under New Hampshire law, South Carolina's decision means our primary could be held no later than Saturday, Jan. 12. But if the primary is held on a Tuesday as they have been in the past, it would put Iowa in a tough spot.

Iowa has its own law requiring its caucus to be held eight days prior to any other caucus or primary, and a Jan. 8 primary in New Hampshire could theoretically push Iowa's caucus back to New Year's Eve or before Christmas.

But Iowa's governor has said the state will do "everything that it takes" to ensure its caucuses will be held in January.

All this has led to talk that New Hampshire might hold its primary on a day other than Tuesday.

"Amen. I hope it is on a Saturday," wrote Manchester resident Lawrence Lesieur, who didn't yet know whether he would vote in the Republican or Democratic contest. "I have missed some voting days due to work requirements. I bet it would change the outcome of elections."

"It couldn't hurt to give it a try, especially if it could lead to a larger turnout," wrote Tilton resident Dave Craig, a likely voter in the Democratic contest.

To be sure, there were those who didn't care for the idea. One writer said that extended voting hours on Tuesday provided people with enough of an opportunity to vote in person or via absentee ballot. Another writer said a Saturday primary would conflict with religious observances, as well as make it hard for those working Saturdays to vote.

But for others, keeping the state's primary the first in the nation was the most important thing.

"I think any day of the week is appropriate. I want New Hampshire to have the first primary and if that means we vote on a Sunday, so be it," wrote Fremont resident Joanna Theberge, a likely voter in the Democratic contest.

40 percent of the respondents said they were more likely to vote in New Hampshire's Republican primary, 39 percent were more likely to vote in the Democratic contest and the rest weren't sure. Most of the respondents, 64 percent, were from south-central New Hampshire, while about 18 percent were from the Seacoast.

Secretary of State William Gardner, who decides when the Granite State will hold its primary, has said he would prefer Tuesday, but has not ruled out holding the primary on a different day.

On the national scene, other factors also remain up in the air -- such as what Michigan could do. Powerful Democrats in the Great Lakes State have long detested what they call Iowa and New Hampshire's "privileged" status in the nominating process, and Democrats there have pledged to move their party's caucus to the same day as the Granite State's primary.