In the quaint town of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, known for kicking off the U.S. election day since 1960, the earliest ballots have delivered an unexpected result: a tie between former President and current Republican candidate, Donald Trump, and his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. Each received three votes out of the six cast at midnight, highlighting the fierce competitiveness of this electoral race, as noted by EFE.
A Symbolic Tradition in a Small Town
Dixville Notch, a small community in the northeast, traditionally sets the stage as its residents are the first to cast their votes. This symbolic event often mirrors, at times, the national trends. Back in 2020, President Joe Biden secured a sweeping victory here with five votes to zero, which aligned with the national outcome of the presidential election. However, the tie registered this time between Trump and Harris seems to forecast a tight race, as suggested by many national polls, particularly in key battleground states.
The Nation Prepares for a Crucial Day
While Dixville Notch serves as a symbolic start, the rest of the United States gears up for a pivotal election day. As the East Coast awakens, polling stations open their doors between 6:00 and 8:00 a.m. local time, allowing citizens to exercise their voting rights until closing times between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m.
With over 538 electoral votes at stake, the victor will need at least 270 to be declared the next President or Vice President of the United States. Although many Americans have already cast their ballots via mail or early voting centers, the majority of votes are expected to be submitted today.
A Heated Battle in Swing States
In recent days, the campaign has zeroed in on seven critical states: Georgia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, and Nevada. These "swing states" have become the backdrop for a heated contest between the candidates, marked by substantial investments in advertising and numerous visits.
An Uncertain Outcome
Despite the polls closing today, counting the votes could be a drawn-out process, especially if the margins are narrow. Initial projections will start rolling in during the evening, but a tie or slim lead in key states might delay the announcement of the winner until final counts are completed.
This election's polarization, coupled with Biden's decision not to seek a second term and Kamala Harris's emergence as the Democratic candidate, has turned this race into one of the most contentious in recent U.S. history. As the world watches, the outcome of this election will not only determine the next leader of the United States but also the direction of a deeply divided nation facing unprecedented internal and external challenges. Tonight's results will mark a significant moment for the country and its role on the international stage.
The Unique Role of Dixville Notch in Election History
Dixville Notch, alongside Hart's Location and Millsfield in New Hampshire, is famous for its unique election tradition of midnight voting. In these locales, residents cast their votes at the start of election day, a practice that has become a symbol of American democracy and draws national and international attention each election cycle.
This midnight voting tradition began in 1948 in Hart's Location, where initially, residents voted at 7:00 a.m. The voting time was moved to midnight in 1952 to provide greater flexibility for railroad workers who needed to be at work before the regular polls opened.
In Dixville Notch, the tradition was officially established in 1960 and has continued ever since. This community, with a very small population (currently four, according to the Census Bureau), allows voters to cast their ballots in a matter of minutes, closing the polls once all registered voters have voted.
Thanks to a legal provision in New Hampshire, results can be announced immediately, making Dixville Notch and its neighboring towns the first to report their results to the world. Historically, Dixville Notch has been a moderate predictor of the ultimate Republican presidential nominee, successfully picking the winner from 1968 to 2012. However, these towns' traditions do not always reflect the national outcome.
In 2024, due to renovations in its usual voting room, the election took place in Tillotson Hall at the Balsams Resort, an iconic venue linked to the region's electoral history ever since Neil Tillotson, who introduced this practice in Dixville Notch, cast the first vote in each presidential election until his death in 2001.
This one-of-a-kind tradition remains a testament to these small communities' commitment to democracy, symbolically marking the start of each election day in the United States.