Voting in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, has resulted in a tie after Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump each secured three votes.
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are tied with three votes each in the first result produced on election day.
Dixville Notch, where there are just six voters, has a tradition dating back to 1960 for being the first town in the country to complete in-person voting.
An accordion version of the US national anthem rang out before voters cast their ballots at midnight.
The count was completed 15 minutes later.
Located on the US-Canada border in New Hampshire’s northern tip, the unincorporated township welcomed four Republican and two undeclared voters to participate in the midnight voting ritual.
While Dixville Notch’s results rarely predict the final outcome or even reflect New Hampshire’s choice, the event remains a cherished political tradition that attracts national media attention each election cycle.
By custom, the eligible voters of Dixville Notch gather at the historic but currently dormant Balsams Hotel, casting their ballots in secrecy as the polls open at midnight.
The votes are immediately tallied, allowing Dixville Notch to announce results hours before any other voting precinct, creating a notable moment for early election enthusiasts.
Les Otten, one of the township’s voters and the primary developer for the Balsams Hotel, described the early voting results as “a civics lesson for the country.”
According to CNN, Otten expressed hope that the township’s unique tradition would inspire broader voter participation across the nation, emphasizing the importance of civic engagement.
Otten also mentioned plans to begin redevelopment of the Balsams next summer, saying, “As long as we’re here and property owners with our toothbrushes in the bathrooms, we might as well exercise our right to vote.”
Other nearby towns, including Millsfield and Hart’s Location, have a history of midnight voting, but only Dixville Notch continues the tradition this year.
These communities were famously depicted in the TV show The West Wing under the fictional name “Hartsfield’s Landing.”
In recent elections, Dixville Notch has leaned Democratic, casting all five votes for President Joe Biden in 2020 and a majority for Hillary Clinton in 2016. E
arlier this year, during the GOP primary, the township’s four registered Republicans and two independents unanimously backed former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
Leave a Reply