Updated at 6:25 p.m. ET

Could New Hampshire voters be choosing a 2012 GOP presidential nominee ... in early December?

New Hampshire Secretary of State William Gardner raises the possibility in a memo that also puts pressure on Nevada to push back its GOP presidential caucuses from Jan. 14 to Jan. 17 or later.

If not, Gardner writes, "it leaves New Hampshire no choice but to consider December of this year." He says the Granite State's "realistic options" would be Dec. 6 or Dec. 13.

"Right now, the problem is the date of Nevada," Gardner writes. "We will respond as we need to in order to honor New Hampshire's tradition, and to keep our primary relevant."

The 2012 political calendar has been on a bit of a roller coaster ride since Florida set its primary for Jan. 31. The Sunshine State, like Arizona before it, flouted rules set by the Republican National Committee barring states except Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina from holding a nominating event before March 6.

Iowa, Nevada and South Carolina all rescheduled in response to Florida to preserve their "first in the nation" status, while New Hampshire still hasn't set a primary date. State law gives Gardner sole authority to do so, and mandates that its election be seven days or more before any other "similar election."

The Iowa caucuses, which are tentatively set for Jan. 3, are not considered a "similar election" in the eyes of New Hampshire law because Iowa delegates for the presidential nominating convention are chosen at a different time.

Gardner argues that the New Hampshire primary has "meaning and relevance" in American politics, and allows candidates who don't have large campaign staffs or a lot of money to get out their message in a state where voters like to meet their candidates face to face.

Stay tuned.